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MOUNTAIN PATH
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it will vanish leaving the Self.
— Talks, Sri Ramana Maharshi

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Vol. 61, No. 1

Published by Dr. Venkat S. Ramanan, President, Sri Ramanasramam on behalf of Sri Ramanasramam
from its office at Tiruvannamalai 606603 and printed by Sri. N. Subramanian at
Sudarsan Graphics Private Limited, 4/641, 3rd Street, 12th Link Street, Kottivakkam, Chennai 600 041.
Editor: Dr. Venkat S. Ramanan
Vol. 61, No. 1 January-March 2024
 NOW AVAILABLE...
Original ink sketch of Arunachala by Sri Ramana Maharshi, from Kunju Swami’s notebook
DIARY AND CALENDARS - 2024
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 CONTENTS
Divine Names Of Arunachala 2
Editorial 3
How To End Misery: Bhagavan’s Prescription S. Ram Mohan 5
Hemalekha: The Saintly Princess V. Krithivasan 13
Poem: The Sacred Ash Of Peace Suresh Kailash 22
When You Cry Out To Arunachala-Ramana, He Responds
Sanjeev Kumar Nath 23
The Maharshi: The One As All Part Two KAYS 31
Kunju Swami Alan Tait 41
Who Is Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi? Carlos Grasso 43
The Grandeur of Kavyakantha’s Poetry V. Krithivasan 45
Diving Into The Deep Ocean Virupaksha 51
Keyword: Śūnyam: The Void Part Four B.K. Croissant 61
Remain Where You Are Suri Nagamma 73
Advaita Primer: Equipoise M. Giridhar 75
The Paramount Importance Of Self Attention Sadhu Om 89
Tamil Siddhas: Agapei P. Raja 95
Maha Bhakta Vijayam: The Blessed Life Of Sant Jayadeva
Nabaji Siddha 101
Nondi’s Corner 109
Youth Corner 114
Question & Answer 120
Book Review 123
Ashram Bulletin 127
Sri Ramanasramam Special Days 2024 128



 Divine Names of Arunachala

33.   

Om mahādevāya namaḥ
Prostration to the Great Lord

In Uḷḷadu Nāṟpadu, Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi’s great

treatise on the nature of Reality, there is only one specific allusion
to God worshiped in name and form, and it occurs in the second
benedictory verse. Those who know the genesis of the treatise know
that the verse was given that place of honour at the request of Ganapati
Muni, a renowned Sanskrit scholar and great devotee of the Master.
Pure-hearted people who have intense fear of death will take
refuge at the feet of God (mahēśaṉ), who is devoid of death and
birth, as a fortress. By their refuge, they undergo death. Will
those who are deathless be associated with the thought of death?1
That Great Lord, as the object of devotion, however, is in reality
formless. As we progress from devotion with desire to devotion
without desire and as the ego is progressively unmasked through
sincere and ardent practise of self-surrender or ātma-vicāra, we come
to understand that we and the formless Absolute are one and the same.
In the first benedictory verse, Bhagavan makes clear that complete
extinction of the ego is knowing God.
If what exists were not, would existing awareness exist? Since
the existing substance exists in the heart without thought, how
to think of the existing substance, which is called ‘heart’? Being
in the heart as it is alone is thinking. Know.2
When we turn within, then, the Great Lord is unceasing awareness
of nothing but the eternal, unchanging, all-pervasive and self-effulgent
‘I am’. We are That. — BKC

1
Translation by Michael James.
2
There are alternative meanings to this verse. See https://happinessofbeing.blogspot.
com/2017/10/ulladu-narpadu-tamil-text.html#unm1.

2 January - March
EDITORIAL
Beacon of Light
Shines on
Dear Devotees and Seekers,

I t is with immense joy and reverence that we celebrate the 60th

anniversary of the Mountain Path, a sacred beacon of spiritual
wisdom and inspiration. As we embark on this momentous occasion,
we also embrace a new chapter, one guided by renewed purpose,
unwavering dedication, and the blessings of our beloved Bhagavan
Sri Ramana Maharshi.
For six remarkable decades, the Mountain Path has been a steadfast
companion to seekers and devotees on their spiritual journey. It has
been a source of solace, wisdom, and guidance, offering insights
into the profound teachings of Bhagavan and the timeless truths of
Sanatana Dharma.
As we reflect on this journey, we cannot help but marvel at the
evolution of our beloved journal. From typewriters to computers,
from floppy disks to emails, from printed manuscripts to digital
editions, the Mountain Path has adapted to changing times with grace
and determination. Through these changes, one thing has remained
constant—the unwavering commitment to sharing the teachings of
Bhagavan with the world.
Today, we stand at the threshold of a new era for the Mountain Path.
With deep humility and a profound sense of responsibility, we, the new
editorial board, step into our roles. Our collective goal is to uphold
the journal’s founding objective, as articulated by Arthur Osborne: to
illuminate a path beyond the confusion and restlessness of modern life,
to offer a glimpse of a more satisfying and enduring existence, and to
facilitate the journey towards that state of inner peace and well-being.
In the spirit of this objective, the Mountain Path will continue to
serve as a pure medium for spreading Bhagavan’s teachings. Our pages

2024 3
MOUNTAIN PATH
will resonate with the wisdom of Sri Ramana Maharshi, providing
a roadmap for seekers in the ever-evolving landscape of the modern
world. We will explore the essence of Vedanta and the profound
teachings of Bhagavan, shedding light on their relevance in today’s
complex and fast-paced existence.
One of our cherished endeavours is the revival of the ‘Letters
to the Editor’ column. We invite you, our beloved readers and
seekers, to share your thoughts, articles, questions, and experiences
at mountainpath@gururamana.org. Your voices are an integral part
of the Mountain Path’s legacy, and we are eager to hear from you.
In addition, we are introducing ‘Nondi’s Corner’, a dedicated
section for our younger devotees. This space will feature stories,
puzzles, and interesting facts that connect with the younger generation,
making Bhagavan’s teachings accessible to all age groups.
We shall release the Mountain Path in both hard copy and
electronic formats, distributing downloadable links on our official
website as well as across all our social media platforms. Our objective
is to provide accessibility to the journal in multiple formats, ensuring
that the wisdom of Bhagavan can be embraced by a global audience.
As we embark on this sacred journey, we are acutely aware of the
changes that have unfolded in the world over the past 60 years. The
challenges of our time may be different, but the restlessness and spiritual
hunger persist. In Bhagavan’s teachings, we find the antidote — a timeless
wisdom that offers solace, clarity, and purpose in an ever-changing world.
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all those who have been part
of this incredible journey — the past editorial boards, contributors,
readers, and devotees who have supported the Mountain Path
throughout the years. Your love and dedication have nurtured this
sacred endeavour. We fondly recall the yeoman contributions of
Mr. Christopher Quilkey during his 20 years as the most recent editor.
With Bhagavan’s blessings and your unwavering support, we look
forward to continuing this spiritual odyssey, lighting the path for
seekers, and sharing the timeless teachings of our beloved Master.
May the Mountain Path remain a beacon of light, guiding us all
towards the eternal truth that resides within our hearts.
In humility and devotion,
Venkat S. Ramanan

4 January - March
How to End Misery:
Bhagavan’s
Prescription
S. Ram Mohan

T he Buddha, in his enunciation of the Second Noble Truth, talks

about the root cause of suffering. He identifies it as ‘tanha’ or
‘craving’. Due to sensuous attractions, desire arises. When we seek
to fulfil the desire, it gets replaced by another greater desire. Then we
seek the means to fulfil that and so on.
Due to this recurring process, our mind gets continuously filled
with unsatisfied desires,which are ever arising out of material craving;
leaving us little time to pursue spiritual development. The mind is
always in a state of flux.
The power of desire is unlimited. One Sanskrit poet writes
sarcastically:
tṛṣṇe devi namas tubhyaṃ
dhairya viplava kārine!
viṣṇu trilokya nāthobhi
yatvaya vāmanikrtaha.

Dr. S. Ram Mohan is a highly accomplished author and editor of Ramanodhayam,

the Tamil magazine of the Ramana Kendra in Chennai.

2024 5
MOUNTAIN PATH
The poet says “Oh Goddess named desire! My prostration unto
you. You are capable of destroying totally the confidence and stature
of a person. Even Vishnu himself, just because he desired bhiksha
from Mahābalī, had to dwarf himself to less than 3 feet and become
Vāmana.”
Śankara picturesquely describes how a person ever gets trapped
by desires:1
aṅgaṁ galitaṁ palitaṁ muṇḍaṁ
daśanavihīnaṁ jātaṁ tuṇḍam |
vṛddho yāti gṛhītvā daṇḍaṁ
tadapi na muñcatyāśāpiṇḍam ||
Even when the person gets very old, with his head ever shaking,
with all teeth fallen, the body invaded by diseases, his very walk
depending on a supporting staff the bundle of desires never leave him!
Krishna effectively conveys this.2
“As a man contemplates sense objects, attachment for them arises;
from attachment, desire is born; from frustrated desires, anger arises;
from anger arises delusion; from delusion comes loss of memory (of
True Self). From loss of memory, destruction of discrimination and
from destruction of discrimination, man perishes.”
How does Bhagavan deal with the rise of desires and their
elimination? Bhagavan does not merely express traditional views
on control of desires. His teachings are scientific and go beyond the
usual psychological approach.
Bhagavan accepts Buddha’s view that desire is the root cause of
misery; however, he does not confine himself to directing the sādhaka
to eliminate desire. He advises him to follow practical steps to find
out when and where the desire rises from. The solution he prescribes
is ‘Ātma vichara’ or ‘Self-enquiry’. Then one finds that the original
problem is the rise of ego.
“Desires are also the products of ego. When we search for the
root of ego and understand the Reality, ego dissolves in the Self; with
that, desires end,” says Bhagavan.

1
Bhaja Govindam, verse 15.
2
Bhagavad Gītā, 2.62 & 2.63.

6 January - March
 HOW TO END MISERY: BHAGAVAN’S PRESCRIPTION
When I think ‘I have desires’, there arises duality, separating the
desiring person and the desire itself. When I find out through vichara
that the person who desires and the object of desire are one and the
same, there arises clarity of vision. The duality of ‘seer’ and the
‘seen’ is due to nescience, which creates the delusion that the seer
and the seen are two different entities. When we reach the state of
pure silence and there are no waves of thought disturbing our inner
tranquillity, ego dissolves in the Self. It becomes apparent that all the
objects of desire are only shadows or mental projections which will
disappear at the dawn of Jñāna. Bhagavan tells us that this is the way
to eliminate desire.
The Buddha calls this as ‘dukkha nirodha gamini patipada ariya
sacca.’ He declares that while the noble truth is that misery is a part
of existence, it is equally an eternal Truth that there is a well-laid path
to end sorrow and to reach Eternal Bliss.
The sādhaka may ask, ‘All this process of self-enquiry appears to
be difficult. Am I capable of doing it?’
Bhagavan says. “Do not worry. Dedicate all the acts you perform
as offering to the Lord.”
Recollect Śankara’s words3 meaning “Whatever work I do, all that
is Your ārādhana (worship), O Shambhu.”
When you perform all your acts with total dedication as an offering
to Him, even those acts started by you, initially propelled by desires,
will gradually become selfless offerings, when done with an attitude of
dedication to the lord without attachment to the result. They purify the
mind and lead to liberation.4 Actions by themselves are not binding; it
is the attitude with which we perform them. It is not the performance
of actions that binds us that we fear but the fear of pain or sorrow
that result from the actions. Bhagavan says that we need not give up
actions. Moreover, it is not possible to give up actions altogether. Nor
can we will to renounce the results of the actions through our volition.
Then, how to get out of this vicious circle? Bhagavan says that
action performed without desire for the results frees us from bondage.
Every reaction produces result.

3
yad yat karma karomi tat tad akhilam śambho tava ārādhanam. — Śiva Mānasa
Pūja, verse 4.
4
Upadesa Undiyār, verse 3.

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MOUNTAIN PATH
However, sorrow comes when we want a specific result and it
is not forthcoming, like a student wanting to get a first class result
in the examination but gets only a second class. While the proper
performance of actions can be ensured by us, the results are obtained
according to the universal law of Dharma. They are the prasada (gift)
of Dharma. Cheerful acceptance of the prasada frees us from likes
and dislikes and makes our mind pure and free. When we recognise
that God is the governor of all actions (karma-adhyaksha) and giver
of all results (karma-phala-dhātā), the mind is purified and becomes
free of all desires.
While initially the actions are propelled by desires, later as we
evolve in sadhana, we seek His Grace and offer all results to Him:
then the results of action do not shackle us. Then vairagya or spiritual
resolve sprouts in our hearts and gets strengthened as we progress
and evolve in our spiritual efforts. Thus strengthened, the mind does
not follow sensuous attractions and material desires. It gets stabilised
in the pursuit of Self-enquiry. When we diligently pursue the quest,
it leads us higher and higher to the ultimate goal of Self-Realisation.
Then the results of karma will not torment us.
To say it in other words, in the beginning when we are propelled
by desires, we may get involved in kāmya karmas; at the same time
when we offer the results to God as nishkāmya karmas, determination
to get liberation gets further strengthened. The mind strengthened in its
resolve does not fall a prey to sensuous attractions; it evolves further
in self-enquiry and finally we abide in the Absolute.
It reminds us where Bhagavan submits a powerful prayer to
Arunachala.5
“Save me from the cruel snares of sensuous attractions and
desires. With thy Grace, make me dissolve in you.” Here Bhagavan
indicates that duality, propelled by material attractions, is destruction.
Merging with the Absolute is the ultimate state. It is achieved when
one transcends desires.
Now Bhagavan suggests one technique, albeit ad hoc, to facilitate
renunciation of desires albeit temporarily. The technique is God
making the sadhaka, hitherto involved in worldly desires, to fall totally
5
Aruṇāchala Akṣaramaṇamālai, verse 20.

8 January - March
 HOW TO END MISERY: BHAGAVAN’S PRESCRIPTION
in love with the Absolute, to the exclusion of all material desires.6 Lord
Ramana says, “You made me fall madly in love for Thee, a ‘straight
madness’, distinct from the ‘crooked madness’ of love for worldly
objects; now grant me the medicine to cure this straight madness of
intense love for Thee and also dissolve me in you, O Arunachala.”
You can see that this is a very competent ‘substitution therapy’,
prescribed by Bhagavan. In Bhagavan’s words, “I was deeply
infatuated with worldly objects and was always contemplating on
them. To wean me away from the taste of sensuous desires (inferior
kind of madness) you made me totally fall in love with you (superior
kind of madness). I am possessed by it now. Though of superior kind,
this is also madness. There is the flaw of duality here. Hence even
this divine romance is to be transcended for total liberation and for
my complete dissolving in you, I implore Thee to provide me with
the medicine to cure me of this madness of love-in-duality with you,
O Arunachala!” prays Bhagavan.
The same idea is reflected in the famous siddha text Tirumantiram:7
Sunder your desires,
Sunder your desires,
Sunder your desires even unto the Lord;
The more you desire,
The more your sorrows;
The more you give up,
The more your bliss shall be.
The devotion to God is essentially an instrument for evolution. By
itself, it does not become the ultimate end. The ultimate is destruction
of all attachment, even with a personal God and merger with the
Absolute in the state of non-duality.
Bhagavan indicates this:8 “O Arunachala! You are totally beyond
all external objects and you shine effulgently as Brahman alone.’’
Bhagavan also indicates to the sadhaka an alternative way to
remove all desires. It is unceasing immersion in meditation.9

6
Aruṇāchala Akṣaramaṇamālai, verse 66.
7
Tirumantiram, 48-26-15.
8
Aruṇāchala Pañcharatnam, verse 4.
9
Uḷḷadu Nāṟpadu Anubandham, verse 25.

2024 9
MOUNTAIN PATH
“By unbroken meditation in the Heart; what knowledge (or
consciousness) is devoid of all adjuncts (upadhis), that Siva is ‘I’.
Destroy all attachments of the mind.”
When the consciousness, ‘I’ rises along with the limiting adjuncts
‘I am this’ or ‘I am that’, it is the ego or individual self; but when the
same ‘I’ remains devoid of all limiting adjuncts as merely ‘I am’, it
is Siva, the Absolute or Self.
When the mind perceives the objects before it, it desires to
possess them. The way to get established in the Self is to enquire
‘Who is the one who desires to possess them?’ When the sail of
a ship gets unfurled, it gets buffeted by strong winds; likewise,
when the mind flows outward, it is disturbed by various thoughts
and desires. When the ship is anchored, it remains stable. Likewise
when the mind is anchored to the enquiry ‘Who am I?’, it remains
stable and in the tranquillity and silence, all desires and thoughts
are stilled. By deep and continuous meditation, all attachments and
cravings are removed.
To get this idea strongly implanted in our minds, Bhagavan explains
this with the powerful analogy,10 “The mind hankering after sensuous
pleasures, repeatedly ruminates over them. It becomes more restless
than a monkey. When the mind is prevented from running after sense
objects and is turned inwards, it gets established in the state of Sarva
Shunya.11
It is the state of ‘nothingness’, the state of mind which is bereft
of objects or ‘vishayas’. At this stage, the mind gets dissolved and
merges with the Great Void.
The mind which is enjoying material desires never gets satiated
with the increasing enjoyment of sense objects. The desire for more
and more enjoyment, wells up in the mind, like the monkey jumping
from one branch to another ceaselessly. The mind is constantly in flux.
Bhagavan advises that the only way to stop the constant wavering of
the mind is to turn it inward and establish it firmly in the great cosmic
void or ‘param’.
The purpose of yoga is to completely eliminate the cravings
and immerse oneself totally in the Supreme Self. The one who

10
Jñānāchāra Vichāra Paṭalam, verse 28.
11
Void of everything except the Self.

10 January - March
 HOW TO END MISERY: BHAGAVAN’S PRESCRIPTION
achieves this is known as a flawless Yogi, as defined by Bhagavan12
in Devikālottaram. Bhagavan delineates are the characteristics of a
great Yogi who has relinquished all desires, one who never lets his
mind pursue desires.
“The mahayogi, the flawless ascetic, never lets his mind pursue
sensuous desires; he completely removes from his mind all mamakara
(the feeling this is mine); his mind is fortified with spiritual practice;
he never has desire or hatred towards any object; he ever revels in
the Self alone.”
Hatred is the reverse-side of desire; both of them are modifications
of the mind. We have to remove both of them slowly from the mind.13
When one becomes a slave to luxury and endless desires, he lets then
accumulate; he ultimately finds it is not possible to fulfil all his desires.
Then frustration and fear arise in his mind. His mind is in turmoil.
Then he commits mistakes and is swallowed by fears that he may
become a candidate for the inevitable retribution. To escape this chain
reaction, Bhagavan advises us to eliminate the starting error of desire.
Reach the desireless state through self-enquiry or continuous
focusing on spiritual heart is the prescription of Bhagavan.
While dealing with the topic of relinquishing of karmas, Bhagavan
emphatically says,14 “Relinquishing all karmas, becoming totally
dispassionate by renouncing all cravings, keeping aloof from the company
of those who indulge in mundane conversations, one should always
contemplate the Self that is always within oneself, by oneself. Know this.”
This verse prima facie, looks somewhat mysterious. However,
when we recollect the first benedictory verse of Ulladu Narpadu, and
read it with this, the import becomes clear. Ulladu Narpadu posits
an eloquent question, ‘Who can meditate upon the Reality known as
Heart, that exists devoid of all thoughts? To remain stable within the
Heart is to truly meditate upon it.’
The statements of Bhagavan here echo the teachings in Yoga
Vasishtam. When desires born of nescience are renounced and
dispassion is developed, avidya gets destroyed by enquiry into the Self.

12
Devikālottaram, verse 75.
13
Devikālottaram, verse 78.
14
Ātma Sakṣātkāra Prakaraṇam, verse 33.

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MOUNTAIN PATH
Then the Self perceives Itself by its own Self. This is the certainty of
Its inherent nature. The Self alone perceives Itself. It investigates itself
by Its own Self. The Self alone exists here; not ignorance. Destruction
of ignorance is considered realisation.15
Let us also see Bhagavan’s references to the elimination of desires.
In verses 14 and 25 of Gītā Sāram, Bhagavan succinctly presents the
disaster that follows when one follows the dictates of desire, and his
liberation when he overcomes the prompting of his cravings.
“Being free from ego and delusion, having conquered the defects
namely attachment (as per Śaṅkara ‘sanga eva doshah’), being
constantly engaged in contemplation of the Self, with their desires
having ceased, being free from the effects of the complementary
opposite pairs known as pleasure and pain etc., such wise men finally
reach, undeluded, that imperishable goal.”16
“Oh Arjuna, just as a blazing fire reduces the fuel to ashes, in
the same way, the fire of knowledge reduces all actions to ashes.
(i.e. renders them ineffective).”17 In his Gītā Sāram, Bhagavan also
cautions the aspirant against falling a prey to desires and attachments.
“The mind, which by nature is wavering and unsteady should again
and again be drawn back from whichever objects towards which it
runs and should be brought under the control of the Self alone.”18
Once this control over the desires and attachments is achieved, the
sadhaka attains liberation, assures Bhagavan as declared by him in
Gītā Sāram, “The contemplative sage who has controlled his senses,
mind and intellect; is heart and soul engaged in striving for liberation,
and who is bereft of desires, fear and anger, stands ever liberated.”19
We have seen how desires, attachments and cravings bind us to the
phenomenal world and prevent us from attaining our goal of liberation.
Bhagavan has shown us the direct and effective way to end misery
and attain liberation. May Bhagavan’s Grace guide us in our path.

15
Yoga Vāsiṣṭham, 1752-53.
16
Bhagavad Gītā, 15.5.
17
Bhagavad Gītā, 4.37.
18
Bhagavad Gītā, 6.26.
19
Bhagavad Gītā, 5.28.

12 January - March
Hemalekha: The
Saintly Princess
A Story from Tripura Rahasya

V. Krithivasan

T ripura Rahasya1 is one of the greatest works of ancient India

that expounds Advaita Vedanta. Sri Bhagavan would often quote
from it to emphasise a point. This Sanskrit work is composed as a
dialogue between sage Dattatreya and Parasurama. It begins with an
exhortation from Dattatreya that Atma Vichara is the only way to
attain the highest good. If once Vichara takes root, the highest good
has been reached in this life for all practical purposes. He further
adds that association with the wise, Satsang, must precede Vichara.
To illustrate this point, he narrates the story of Hemalekha. Through
association with this young lady saint, her husband Hemachuda and
later, through him, all his family members and the citizens and people
of all classes in his land, became realised beings. It is interesting to
see Hemachuda progressing gradually through the stages of Satsang,
Vairagya, Faith, Grace, Effort, Atma Vichara, Self-absorption and
finally Jivan Mukti, all in a lifetime.

1
Based on Venkataramiah, M., Tripura Rahasya, Sri Ramanasramam.
Mr. V. Krithivasan is highly accomplished and was the editor of Ramana Jyothi,
the magazine of the Ramana Kendram in Hyderabad. He has been associated
with the Kendram in various capacities for over forty years.

2024 13
MOUNTAIN PATH
The Stage of Satsang
There was once a prince by name Hemachuda. During a hunting
expedition in a forest, he met a charming maiden of extraordinary
beauty by name Hemalekha. Hemachuda fell hopelessly in love with
her at first sight. With the permission of her foster father, he married
her and returned with her to his capital. The loving couple passed a
very happy honeymoon in a number of mansions and resorts. Many
days passed and the prince noticed that his young wife was not as
amorous as himself. Though she was essentially happy, she was not
interested in seeking pleasure or enjoying it. She seemed to live in a
world of her own, quite indifferent to whatever happened around her.
The prince pressed her to reveal her state of mind.
Hemalekha smiled gently and said, “O Prince! It is not that I do
not love you. I am trying to find what the greatest joy in life is; a joy
that never becomes distasteful. If you notice carefully, possession of
any kind is not constant in its capacity to please one always. Even
the king of the land is full of worries all the time, despite his power
over his land and his subjects, and the riches and resources at his
disposal. No one seems to possess everything that is sufficient for
lasting happiness.
“That cannot be happiness which is tinged with misery. Misery
is of two kinds: one caused by the body and the other by the mind.
Mental suffering is far worse than physical pain. The whole world
seems afflicted with suffering and distraction of the mind. If you
analyse, you will see that desire is the cause for mental suffering.
Respite gained by the fulfilment of one desire cannot be happiness,
because there is another waiting to take its place. Desires push you
into endless actions.
“You consider me beautiful and derive pleasure out of my beauty.
The beauty that you perceive in me is only the reflection of the subtle
concept already in your mind. The mind draws an image of something
beautiful in conformity with its own repeated conceptions. The
repeatedly drawn image becomes clearer and clearer till it appears
solidly as an object. An attraction springs up in mind by constant
mental association. The mind becomes restless and stirs up the senses
and seeks fulfilment of its desires in the object. Oft- repeated mental
pictures is the reason for infatuation.”

14 January - March
 HEMALEKHA: THE SAINTLY PRINCESS
Hemalekha then makes the following extraordinary observation:
        
     
tathā ca yo yo yasyāṁ tu rati vindati mānavaḥ
sundaryāṁ vāpi cānyasyāṁ tatra sauṣṭhavaṁ ullikhet
Whoever finds pleasure in anything, the beauty therein is only
mental imagery. The idea of beauty lies in one’s own desire innate
in the mind. One whose mind is composed is not swayed by desires.
Hemachuda was astounded to receive this reply from his beautiful
wife.
The stage of Vairagya
Hemachuda was fascinated by the logic of his wife’s forceful words.
As he thought more and more about Hemalekha’s words, he started
developing a distaste for earthly pleasures. He discussed again
and again with his wife about the nature of sensory pleasures and
their inability to produce lasting fulfilment. A sense of Vairagya or
detachment started developing in prince Hemachuda.
Enjoyments ceased to interest him, but the force of habit still
remained with him. He was therefore unable to enjoy himself or
desist all of a sudden. He became repentant when he fell a prey to his
old habits. His mind was swinging like a pendulum between the old
habits and the wisdom gained from his wife. He became melancholic.
Hemalekha became aware of the change in him and asked him
one day why he had lost his old cheer. He told his wife, “Hemalekha,
what you told me on the last occasion has barred all means of pleasure
for me.
    
        (V-24)
rājñā vitīrṇo viṣayaḥ sukhado’pi samantataḥ
vadhyaṁ na sukhayet yadvat tathā tasmānna me sukham
I find nothing that can make me happy, just as a man who is
awaiting his execution feels.
Hemalekha was pleased to hear this. She felt it was a good symptom
and saw that Grace of the Supreme Lord was working in him.

2024 15
MOUNTAIN PATH
The Stage of Faith, Effort and Grace
Hemalekha decided to impart further knowledge to Hemachuda. She
told him that developing faith in the words of the wise, was a very
important factor in achieving the Supreme goal. She told him, “People
will not gain anything, either during their lifetime or after death, by
endless discussions or blind acceptance. Of the two however, there
is hope for the latter but none for the former. Beware of intellectual
gymnastics parading as logic.” Hemachuda asked his wife, “My dear!
You say that faith bestows the highest good. But on what should I
place my faith?”
Hemalekha answered, “O Prince! That is best which does not yoke
you again to suffering. Whatever has the impress of misery cannot be
good. Discriminating zeal is what is needed in assessing the right path.
You will be quickly benefitted if you turn away from dry, ruinous logic
and engage in purposeful discussions. Be guided by the experience
of the wise, accompanied by zeal and constant efforts. More than
anything else, Grace is needed. Without it, one cannot overcome the
delusion caused by the mind. Therefore worship the Primal Cause of
the universe as the starting point. Be devoted to Him. He will soon
enable you to succeed in your attempts to destroy the illusion.
     
        (VII-50)
tameva sarva bhāvena bhaktyāśu śaraṇī kuru
śreyasi tvāṁ yājayet sa tvaṁ na tatparatāṁ vraja
Surrender yourself directly and unhesitatingly to Him. He will
ordain the best for you and you need not ask for it.
“Of all methods of approach to God, loving dedication to Him is the
best and surest in its results. He is the Transcendent Being, formless,
and out of Grace to His devotees, He assumes a form. Therefore, be
wise and worship the one pure, unblemished Transcendence. If unable
to comprehend this state, one may worship Him with a concrete form.”
Hemachuda, on hearing the truth about the need for God’s Grace
in his quest for supreme knowledge, took to worshipping Him with
intense devotion. By and by, the Supreme Being’s Grace descended
on him. He became totally indifferent to pleasure because his mind
was entirely absorbed in the practical investigation of the Truth. Once

16 January - March
 HEMALEKHA: THE SAINTLY PRINCESS
more Hemachuda sought his wife for further guidance to reach the
state she was enjoying. Hemalekha was pleased to see the prince in a
calm frame of mind. She decided to take him to the next level in his
quest. She started instructing him about the greatest path to Moksha,
namely Atma Vichara.
The Stage of Atma Vichara
Continuing her instructions to her husband Hemachuda, Hemalekha
said to him, “O Prince! Investigate the nature of the Self with a keen
intellect. The Self is not an object to be perceived or described. The
Self does not admit of specification and so no teacher can teach it.
However, you can realise it within you as it resides in an unblemished
intellect. It pervades all, from personal God to amoeba, but it is not
cognizable by the mind or senses. No external agency can illumine
it, but it illumines all, everywhere and always. I can only explain to
you the means to Self-realisation.”
Prince Hemachuda was all eagerness to receive further instructions
from his wife. Hemalekha continued, “As long as you are contaminated
with notions of me or mine, the Self cannot be found, for it lies beyond
cognition and cannot be realised as my Self!
     
     (IX-16)
mamārthaṁ akhilaṁ tyaktvā yattyaktuṁ naiva śakyate|
tadātmānaṁ samālakṣya paraṁ śreyaḥ samāpnuhi||
Analyse all those things that are cognized as mine and discard
them all. What remains, transcending all - know that to be the Self.
After receiving these clear instructions, Hemachuda retired to a
lonely resort and locked himself in, ordering his servants not to allow
anyone inside. He started contemplating on what his wife had told
him. He thought, “When the Self is not known, all else is in vain, as if
done in a dream. I will now investigate the matter. My home, wealth,
kingdom, treasure, women, cattle – none of these is me, they are mine.
I certainly take my body to be myself but it is only a tool. This body
is mine, built up of blood, flesh and bones and is constantly changing
every moment. How can it be the changeless Self? I have one body in
the wakeful state but take on others during dream. I am always aware,

2024 17
MOUNTAIN PATH
but I do not realise that pure state of awareness. The reason for this
inability is not clear to me. It seems to be obstructed by many factors
pertaining to the non-Self butting in. They cannot appear without
my mental imagery of them to obstruct the Self.” Thinking thus,
Hemachuda forcibly arrested his thoughts. Immediately, a blankness
superseded. He continued his meditation and with a mind in a restful
state, saw a blazing light, without any circumference. He regained
his normal consciousness after some time. He began to think that the
experience lacked constancy and decided to repeat it and dived within
himself. This time he fell into a long sleep and dreamt wonderful
dreams. He woke up and felt frustrated. He wondered how he could
have lapsed into a dream state. He felt that the blankness and light
experienced earlier must also have been in the nature of dream. He
checked his mind once again and remained in a thought-free state
for some duration. He felt blissful in that state. It was like sleep in so
far as he was not externally aware. The reason for the peculiar state
of bliss was not clear to him. There was nothing in that state to be a
cause for imparting bliss. He asked himself whether these experiences
indicated there were stages of development in the realisation of the
Self. He decided to ask his wife and sent for her.
The Stage of Self-Absorption
Hemalekha came to the resort, having been summoned. She saw the
prince in a peaceful frame of mind. The prince asked his wife, “My
dear, as advised by you, I engaged myself in the investigation of the
Self. I had diverse visions and experiences. Thinking that the constant
Self-awareness is dimmed by mental activities, I forcibly suppressed
my thoughts and remained calm. After many experiences, eventually
a unique bliss overpowered me briefly. Is this the Self or something
else? Please analyse my experiences and advise me.” Hemalekha
listened to him carefully and started speaking to him sweetly. She said,
“Listen to me, my dear! Your efforts in turning the mind inward is a
good beginning. However, this will not produce Self-realisation, for
the simple reason that the Self remains realised at all times. If it is a
product of something, it cannot be the Self. How can the Self be got
anew? Is there any moment when the Self is not the Self? Control of
mind alone cannot produce it.

18 January - March
 HEMALEKHA: THE SAINTLY PRINCESS
“Though the Self is always there, it is not recognised by you even
with a controlled mind, because you are not conversant with it. Attend
carefully! In the short interval before blankness appeared and after
the control of the mind, there remains a state free from the effort to
control and the perception of blankness. Always remember that state
as one of perfect and transcendental happiness. All are deceived in that
state because their minds are accustomed to be turned outward. Even
scholars and yogis do not realise the Self because it is not realisable
but already realised.
        
    (IX-82)
gatvā dūraṁ na tat prāpyaṁ sthitvā prāptaṁ hi sarvadā
na tadvicārya vijñeyaṁ avicārādvibhāsate
Realisation is not attained by going far but only by staying still;
not by thought processes but by cessation of thought.
“Effort towards realisation is like attempting to stamp with one’s
foot on the shadow cast by one’s head! Effort will always make it
recede. Although people understand space, they are not aware of it
because they are taken in by the objects in the space. They understand
the universe in space but have no regard for space itself. Similar is the
case with regard to the Self; they pay attention to the mental forms
but not the consciousness underlying the mind.”
Hemachuda was keenly listening to his wife, absorbing her
words. Hemalekha continued, “The world consists of knowledge and
objects known. The objects are non-Self and perceived by the senses.
Knowledge is dependent on the knower for its existence. The knower
does not require any tests for knowing his own existence. The knower
therefore is the only reality behind knowledge and objects. That which
is self-evident without the necessity to be proved alone is real; not
so other things. Objects and their knowledge are only reflections in
the eternal, self-luminous supreme consciousness which is the same
as the knower and which alone is real. Therefore prince, realise
with a still mind your own true nature, which is one pure, undivided
consciousness, underlying the restless mind.

2024 19
MOUNTAIN PATH
“Realise with a still mind the state between sleep and wakefulness,
the interval between the recognition of one object after another, or
the gap between two perceptions. This is the Real Self, inhering in
which, one is no longer deluded. Let not your mind be outgoing.
Turn it inward; control it just a little and watch for the Self, always
remembering that the investigator himself is the essence of the being,
the Self of the Self. Be also free from the thought, ‘I see’. Remain
still like a blind man seeing. What transcends seeing and not-seeing
is what you are. Be quick!” Hemachuda did accordingly and having
gained that state referred to by his wife, he remained peaceful and
absorbed for a long time unaware of anything beside the Self.
Hemachuda was soon to learn that this exalted state was also not
the final state!
Jivanmukti
Hemalekha noticed that her husband had attained supreme peace
and so did not disturb him. He opened his eyes after a while and saw
his wife nearby. Eager to fall into that state once more, he closed
his eyes. Immediately, Hemalekha took hold of his hands and asked
him sweetly, “My Lord, tell me what makes you feel that you gain
something by closing your eyes. What is it that happens, on the eyes
being closed or left open?”
On being pressed for an answer, Hemachuda looked as if he were
drunk and replied reluctantly and haltingly. “My dear! I have found
pure, untainted happiness. I cannot find the least satisfaction in the
activities of the world now. They are tasteless to me like a sucked-out
orange. What a pity that people are unaware of the bliss of their own
Self! They run after pleasures like cattle chewing the cud incessantly.
Earlier, I used to run after sensual pleasures, unaware of the boundless
ocean of bliss within me. I was so infatuated, I mistook them for lasting
happiness. Enough of these activities that make us pursue pleasures,
but which only end in sorrow! Hemalekha, my dear! I appeal to you
to let me fall into that peaceful state of the bliss of the Self. I pity you
that though knowing this state, you are not in it but are ever engaged
in activities!”
Hemalekha smiled on hearing this and said to him, “You do not
yet know the highest state of sanctity, a state which is not besmirched
by duality. Reaching this, the wise transcend duality and are never

20 January - March
 HEMALEKHA: THE SAINTLY PRINCESS
perplexed. That state is yet very, very far from you! Your small measure
of wisdom is as good as no wisdom because it is not unconditional
but remains conditioned by closing the eyes.”
Hemachuda was astonished to hear this. His wife continued,
“Perfection cannot depend on activity or otherwise, on effort or no
effort. How can that state be a perfect one, if mental or physical
activity can influence it? Can displacement of the eyelid by the width
of a barley grain make all the difference to it? Again, how can it be
perfect if located only in the interior? It is ridiculous to think that an
eyelid one inch long, can shut out the expanse in which millions of
worlds revolve in one corner alone!
“You must be careful to see the knots created by the bonds of
illusion that come in the way of perennial bliss. These knots give
rise to mistaken ideas, the chief of which is the thought ‘I-am-
the-body’. This in turn gives rise to the endless cycle of births and
deaths. The second knot is the differentiation of the world from the
Self. The truth is, the being-consciousness of the Self is the mirror in
which the phenomena are simply reflected. The other knots include
differentiation of beings among themselves and from the Universal
Self. These knots have originated from time immemorial and recur
with unbroken ignorance. The man is not finally redeemed unless he
extricates himself from the countless knots of ignorance.
“The state which resulted in the closing of your eyes cannot be
enough. Your conviction ‘I shall lose it by opening my eyes’ or ‘I
know it’ is the knot waiting to be cut. It is not an attainment though,
as whatever can be attained is not the perfect state. Be strong and root
out your thoughts and the deep-rooted knots like ‘I will see’, ‘I am
not this’, ‘This is non-Self’ and such.
   
   (X-37)
paśya sarvatra cātmānaṁ akhaṇḍānandabṛṁhitam
paśyātmanyakhilaṁ lokaṁ darpaṇapratibimbavat
Find wherever you turn, the one undivided, eternal, blissful Self.
Watch the whole Universe reflected as it rises and subsides in the Self.
See the Self both within and without. Abide in the peace of your true
Self, devoid of phenomena.

2024 21
MOUNTAIN PATH
At the end of her speech, Hemachuda’s confusion was cleared up.
He gradually became well established in the perfect Self bereft of any
distinction of within or without. Being always equable, he led a very
happy life with Hemalekha, his wife and Guru. He reigned over his
kingdom, engaged in all activities of governance, and lived the life
of a Jivan Mukta (liberated while yet alive).
His father, the king, heard about the change in Hemachuda. He
was amazed to see that his son was a different person altogether.
Hemachuda was no longer affected by the sway of pleasures or
sorrows. He treated friends and foes alike; he was indifferent to loss or
gain. He engaged in royal activities like an actor in a play. He seemed
like a person always intoxicated with wine; yet he performed all his
duties perfectly. The king also wanted to be instructed to reach the
same state as his son. Eventually, he too became a realised soul. So too
all his ministers, citizens, all classes of people in his land, including
children and the pet animals! The whole land was populated with
sages and philosophers. It came to be known as the land of Wisdom
and praised by all the rishis. The land owed its reputation to the wise
princess Hemalekha, a teacher of extraordinary merit.
This remarkable story sees the progression of the prince Hemachuda
from Satsang, Vairagya, Faith, Effort, Grace, Atma Vichara, Atma
Nishta and finally to Jivan Mukti. 

The Sacred Ash of Peace

Suresh Kailash
Throwing into the sacred fire,
the mother of all desires,
to change what is to what should be,
I wear the sacred ash of peace.
Throwing into the sacred fire,
the false notion, ‘I am the doer,’
when it is not I who even breathe,
I wear the sacred ash of peace.

22 January - March
When You Cry Out
to Arunachala-
Ramana,
He Responds
Sanjeev Kumar Nath

A runachala and Sri Bhagavan are one and the same entity; hence I
am using the singular pronoun ‘He’ for Arunachala-Ramana. One
may use ‘She’ too, for He is the Mother principle, Matrubhuteshwara
as well. If one is too fussy about gender and language, one may use
‘They’, although ordinary gender discourse is quite inappropriate for
this subject, and language itself falls silent in trying to gesture towards
the Truth that is Arunachala-Ramana.
Many of Sri Bhagavan’s devotees have written about how they first
came to Him, or how He caught them in his net of grace. I too, have
done it. It is always exhilarating to read these first-hand accounts of
people’s contact with Sri Bhagavan. But do these stories end there?
They are only the beginnings, for Sri Bhagavan’s grace works on and
on, never failing to respond to the devotees’ prayers. Numerous first-
hand accounts of the blessed devotees tell us about how Sri Bhagavan’s
grace is ever available. What is going to be recounted here is only
Sanjeev Kumar Nath is a lecturer in the Department of English of Gauhati
University, Guwahati, Assam. He may be contacted at sanjeevnath21@gmail.com

2024 23
MOUNTAIN PATH
the experience of an insignificant devotee of Sri Bhagavan, but the
very fact that He is so compassionate to ‘me, poor me’ should provide
encouragement to other devotees, particularly those who are gradually
finding their way through various difficulties. The purport of this piece
is to tell them, with the knowledge gathered from personal experience,
that if you call, Sri Bhagavan responds. He never fails to respond. The
surrendered devotee is never forsaken by Arunachala-Ramana, and
perhaps even before one achieves true, total surrender, the ocean of
compassion that is Arunachala-Ramana, owns you. You take one step
towards Him, and He takes ten, may be a hundred steps towards you.
One of the difficulties of writing what I am going to recount here is
that I would have to refer to some people who have been of immense
help to me, but if I took their names, it could be an embarrassment
for them for I know that what they did was not at all propelled by
any desire for praise. In fact, I know so many of them because of my
years of visits to the Ashram, although they wouldn’t know me. And
even if I know them, I would not try to strike a conversation with
any of them when I see them. I just offer my silent pranams at their
feet. In this article, too, I remember them with gratitude, but choose
not to take their names.
After this rather lengthy prelude, now the story. From the onset of
the COVID pandemic, my wife and I were extremely apprehensive
about our usual visits to the Ashram during Sri Bhagavan’s Jayanti.
Usually, I would take leave from work and be in Tiruvannamalai a
day or two before Sri Bhagavan’s Jayanti and stay on at least until the
end of the Aksharamanamalai talks. We would write to the Ashram
well in advance to find accommodation. Occasionally, particularly
in the early years of our contact with Sri Bhagavan, we have had
to stay elsewhere too. After every visit to the Ashram, we would be
yearning to be back, and generally we had to wait for a year. This is
mostly because of the difficulty of getting leave from work. I do not
dislike my work, and try to do it with a spirit of detachment and also
as an offering to Sri Bhagavan, but in a way, I am also hoping for the
day—which should come in about three years’ time—I will retire and
will be free to be in Tiruvannamalai whenever I want. Ah, for the day
when Arunachala decides to keep us captive!

24 January - March
WHEN YOU CRY OUT TO ARUNACHALA-RAMANA, HE RESPONDS
So not being able to visit our beloved Ashram was a great agony
although I tried to pacify myself by reminding me how hopeful waiting
could itself be a great sadhana: the way Sabari waited for Lord Ram,
“Today the Lord will surely come with his brother. Let me keep the
house clean, let me clean the path He will tread. Let me pick fresh
fruits for Him for today He will come…” Thus, the pandemic itself
became an opportunity for sadhana: “This will pass. These times will
pass, for nothing in this relative world is real, nothing everlasting. The
grace of Arunachala-Ramana who is in my heart as in Tiruvannamalai,
alone is everlasting…”
I confess that despite all such consolations that I gave myself, I felt
the innermost core of my being cry out loudly “Arunachala-Ramana!”
I felt that my cry was so loud, so desperate, that it did not only reach
the Lord in my Heart, but also the physical Arunachala, the Mountain
of Grace 3000 km away from where I was staying.
And then I found myself in Arunachala! When things started
happening in a certain way, I did not know that in the end I would
actually find myself in our beloved Ashram, in Arunachala! That is
the miracle. I mean to recount how these things happened, none of
which were planned by us.
I was experiencing some health problems, and when I saw a
doctor, he had some tests done. I was diagnosed with something that
was not too serious now, but had the potential of turning dangerous.
The diagnosis made me think of what Sri Bhagavan had diagnosed
long ago—that when a disease comes to the body, it is as if a disease
has come to disease. After all, the body itself is a disease. Of course,
I would follow medical advice, but with the full conviction that the
ultimate panacea for all ills is Arunachala-Ramana. Meanwhile, the
doctor said that if I wished, I could go for consultation in a higher
institute, and when I asked him if he would recommend any specific
institute, he mentioned Christian Medical College, Vellore. The
name Vellore immediately reminded me how once, some years ago,
I was invited to a seminar in Vellore and how I had made use of that
opportunity to first visit Tiruvannamalai. Now also, the name Vellore
sounded like Tiruvannamalai to me, and I prayed to Bhagavan that
He grant us one more visit to Arunachala. Thus, in a way the medical
check-up was just a pretext. All I was interested in was to somehow

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MOUNTAIN PATH
be in the physical sannidhi of Arunachala-Ramana once again! In
fact, I was even wondering if we could make our long-cherished
visits to Tiruchuzhi and Madurai too, along with Tiruvannamalai. We
had visited Ramana Mandiram, Madurai earlier one year, and were
instantly captivated by this place where the young Venkataraman had
become one with the Self, for ever. We were also drawn to the people
who take care of the place (I am not taking any names, as explained
earlier), and were thinking of visiting Tiruchuzhi along with Madurai,
whenever possible.
On December 20, 2021 we reached Chennai, and after seeing a
doctor there, and quickly visiting the Kapaleeshwarar Temple and
the Ramakrishna Mutt at Mylapore, we travelled to Vellore. Getting
a doctor’s appointment proved difficult at CMC, and first they gave
us a date in late February. Of course, in my mind I was praying to
Arunachala-Ramana to make our pilgrimage possible, whatever
happens in CMC. Then, quite without any effort on my part, the
people in charge of allotting dates saw my papers, consulted among
themselves, and asked me to come again the next day, promising me
to help get an earlier appointment. Next day, they fixed December
30 as my date of appointment with the doctor so that we had a few
days at hand to run away to Tiruvannamalai. We went to the hotel
and checked out, although they did not refund the amount I had
already paid for another day. No regrets…after all, we are going to
Tiruvannamalai, at last!
We knew that the deepam was still there on the top of holy
Arunachala, and if we saw it, it would be a first-time experience for
us. But when our bus entered Tiruvannamalai, it was raining so heavily
that I wonder if I was not in my native place, Assam in the monsoons!
There was water everywhere. The bus driver took us to a relatively
safe place and let us get down. Even to go to an autorickshaw by the
side of the road, we had to take off our shoes and plod our way through
water! This was a totally new Tiruvannamalai for us. We had been here
in many Decembers and Januarys, but never did it rain like this! In
a strange way, even the trouble of having to plod through water with
all our luggage, was exhilarating. The great sage Jnanasambandhar
of yore was robbed of all pomp and wealth as he entered Arunachala.
As I took off my shoes, I remembered the Jnanasambandhar story and

26 January - March
WHEN YOU CRY OUT TO ARUNACHALA-RAMANA, HE RESPONDS
a stray thought teased me, “Is Arunachala demanding that I at least
take off my shoes when touching the sacred soil of Tiruvannamalai?”
We were aware that because of the pandemic, the Ashram was not
providing accommodation, and so we had not even tried writing for
accommodation. Of course, we had no complaints because what the
Ashram administration was doing in these times of the pandemic was
quite justified. So, we checked in at a hotel, although rather reluctantly,
and then quickly changed and came to the Ashram. We made some
enquiries at the Ashram office, and then, Sri Bhagavan’s infinite
compassion took over. That’s a wrong way of putting it, actually.
Sri Bhagavan’s compassion is always at work; it does not manifest
suddenly and at particular moments only. It is we who mostly remain
unaware of it, and then suddenly notice it. In this case, it took us some
moments to realise how Sri Bhagavan finally kept us even physically
near Arunachala! Four blessed nights and days!
We were doing giripradakshina one evening when someone by the
roadside just came straight to us and gestured towards the peak of
Arunachala, “Look!” he said, “Today is the eighth day…” We were
spellbound by the beauty of the deepam high up on the peak. It was
very cloudy, but the deepam shone through all the gloom. Then next
evening – if I am not wrong – we were singing Aksharamanamalai
along with other devotees on the verandah of Sri Bhagavan’s shrine.
It was again cloudy and wet, so that it was quite impossible to hope
for a sight of the deepam. But just as we finished singing, lo and
behold! The deepam suddenly appeared and shone with immense
brilliance. It was so cloudy and rainy that it just struck us all as a
miracle, particularly because of the timing!
On our giripradakshina round we looked into Adi Annamalai
temple, and on another day, we visited Pachaiamman temple, both
places associated with Sri Bhagavan in some ways. One of Sri
Bhagavan’s many stops on the giripradakshina route would be Adi
Annamalai, and it is said that a tunnel leading from Adi Annamalai
temple was closed on Sri Bhagavan’s advice. Sri Bhagavan had stayed
near Pachaiamman temple more than once, and particularly during
the outbreak of plague in and around Tiruvannamalai. Right in the
beginning of the Covid 19 epidemic, I had made a resolve to visit
the Pachaiamman temple when we were in Tiruvannamalai, and now

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MOUNTAIN PATH
the Mother had made it possible for us to pay our respects to Her in
the temple.
In much of the literature concerning Sri Bhagavan and his devotees,
we get to know about Palakkothu, but I wasn’t sure where Palakkothu
was. This time I asked one of the office people about its location, and
was told that it was roughly where we were staying and also included
the areas of the Annamalai Swami Ashram and the Agastya Vinayaka
temple. We looked around these places, too. Nestled at the foot of
Arunachala, Palakkothu has been an important place of sadhana.
Every morning we would attend the puja at Sri Bhagavan’s shrine,
and from then on would be at various locations of the Ashram,
imbibing the sacred atmosphere. At the end of the four days came
the difficult moment of parting, but as Sri Bhagavan assures us of
Arunachala-Ramana being our Self, we say a reverential goodbye to
the beloved Ashram, and travel to Vellore. After meeting the doctor
there, we quickly decide to travel to Madurai. We took a night bus to
Madurai, without knowing that a very pleasant surprise was awaiting
us. We were dozing off in the night bus when suddenly the conductor
shouted “Tiruvannamalai!” Of course, this surprise was simply
because we did not know the bus route properly. We did not know that
we were going to Madurai via Tiruvannamalai. We got down to have
some food in a restaurant, and as we ate, Arunachala was watching
us, looming large in the darkness beyond. And I thought about the
situation…I could not see Arunachala in the dark, but Arunachala
was watching us! Is this not what it is like, always? I am not able to
see Arunachala at all times, but Arunachala is watching me! And the
important thing is that the darkness of disease or weakness is not the
reality; the reality is Arunachala-Ramana, ever watching us!
We reached Madurai very early in the dawn, so that it was still
dark, and we took an auto-rickshaw to a hotel very near the Meenakshi
temple. I had booked a room there, and we took a nap in our room
before getting ready to visit the temple and Ramana Mandiram.
As in our previous visit to the great temple, all kinds of people
approached with offers to be our guides. Some said they knew Hindi,
some said they had been working as Hindi teachers, and so on.
Looking at me, they knew I wasn’t from South India, so they tried
Hindi on me, but most of them would be confused when they looked

28 January - March
WHEN YOU CRY OUT TO ARUNACHALA-RAMANA, HE RESPONDS
at my wife, and would ask her whether she was from Tamil Nadu!
Anyway, we gently shrugged these ‘guides’ off, and went into the
temple on our own. We had a wonderful time, easily having darshan
of both Mother Meenakshi and her Consort Lord Sundareswarar. As
we moved around, we remembered how young Venkataraman would
come there, steeped in devotion, and weep before the images of the
Goddess, God and the sages.
Then we walked towards the south gopuram of the great temple,
and moved into the little lane to reach Ramana Mandiram. Again, we
felt at home immediately. The abiding peace of the place is contagious,
and the warmth of the people taking care of Ramana Mandiram is so
inviting. When we told them about our desire to visit Tiruchuzhi the
next day, one of them arranged a car for us and another went with
us, showing us all things we wanted to see. Although I am not taking
their names, I mention them with the deepest sense of respect and
gratitude. How wonderful these devotees are! So caring, so selfless!
Something that has always struck me as peculiar to Sri Bhagavan’s
devotees is their complete indifference to material benefits. Every year,
by the grace of Sri Bhagavan, we offer some humble donation at the
Ashram, but never have we encountered the slightest solicitation for
funds. In contrast, there are mammoth religious organisations, recruiting
millions of devotees and always asking for donations! How wonderfully
different Sri Ramanasramam is! At Madurai, too, before we left, we
tried to make our humble contribution, and we actually had to face
opposition! The venerable, dear devotees were so concerned about our
expenses, that they wouldn’t easily be persuaded to accept a donation.
At Tiruchuzhi, we paid our respects to Lord Bhoominatha and
His Consort Goddess Sahayavalli in the temple about which we had
read so much. We saw the temple tank about which Sri Bhagavan has
spoken. Then we went to Sundara Mandiram, pleasantly surprised
at its being so near the temple! I had seen many old photographs of
the place, and noticed that it has been beautifully transformed by Sri
Ramanasramam. We sat in the shrine and sang Upadesa Saram and
Prapatti Ashtakam. (Again, it was one of our dear Ramana Mandiram
devotees that had first kindled my interest in Prapatti Ashtakam, and
now, by Sri Bhagavan’s grace, we were chanting it at Sri Bhagavan’s
place of birth.)

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MOUNTAIN PATH
On our way back to Madurai, we saw the school where Sri
Bhagavan had studied, and which the Madurai devotees continue to
serve by way of encouraging the students with prizes, etc. We also
saw the library renovated/rebuilt by Sri Ramanasramam.
We thoroughly enjoyed singing with the devotees at Ramana
Mandiram in the evening, although we had to look into our phones
for scripts of prayers like Akshramanamalai. Finally, when it was time
for us to return, the Ramana Mandiram people again blessed us with
Sri Bhagavan’s prasad. Closing off our blessed days of pilgrimage,
we started our return journey, first taking a train to Chennai from
where we had our flight. And since then, every day, every night, my
heart now and again calls out, “Arunachala-Ramana!” That will be
its plight until, perhaps, the Lord decides some fine day to just keep
us trapped for good in Arunachala! I understand that the journey
within is more important than the physical journey, I understand that
Tiruvannamalai is already getting over-crowded, but still, I long for
the physical proximity of Arunachala. As said by the poet T S Eliot
in ‘The Journey of the Magi’.
All this was a long time ago, I remember,
And I would do it again, but set down
This set down
This: were we led all that way for
Birth or Death? There was a Birth, certainly,
We had evidence and no doubt. I had seen birth and death,
But had thought they were different; this Birth was
Hard and bitter agony for us, like Death, our death.
We returned to our places, these Kingdoms,
But no longer at ease here, in the old dispensation,
With an alien people clutching their gods.
I should be glad of another death. 

30 January - March
The Maharshi:
The One as All
Part Two
KAYS

I n Hindu Dharma, Mother Earth is hailed as the Symbol of Supreme

Forbearance and Love, supporting and sustaining equally the good
and bad including the ones who harm her. While sage Valmiki hails
Rama as equal only to Mother Earth in patience1 so is Bhagavan hailed
as being ‘greater than Earth in Patience’2 and ‘surpassing the Earth
in Patience who holds and sustains everything’3 when there are none
as others and there is no body sense, and forbearance is at its zenith.
After reaching the feet of his Father in Tiruvannamalai when he
sat immersed in Samadhi, the pinpricks, thorns nay even the tortures
inflicted on him by mischievous urchins failed to stir any pangs
of anger in his breast. The marvel of his sitting motionless like a
‘glowing Buddha’4 after taking knowingly and without resistance
the poison administered to him by a jealous sadhu, just to test him
inspires Pillai to ‘Hail the Feet of the Lord who takes even poison as
nectar.’5 The application of burning chilli-paste, over every inch of
his body by another was met with his invariable response of silence
bereft of reaction and resistance. Later he reminisced that it became
quite cool and pleasant.
1
kṣamayā pṛthvī samaḥ – 1-1-18.
2
Poṟumaiyil bhuviyil periyai nī, Ramana Devamalai, v. 17.
3
Ganapati Muni, Sri Ramana Gita, Ch. 18, v. 12.
4
Godman, D. Power of the Presence, Part I, p. 58.
5
Godman, D. Ramana Padamalai, v. 6.

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MOUNTAIN PATH
It may be worthwhile to remember a verse quoted by Bhagavan
from Ponnambala Swami’s commentary on Gita and it goes thus:
‘Men of total renunciation won’t be afraid even if guileful enemies
stab their chest or they are surrounded by fire or bitten by cobra, all
will be Bliss for them.’6
Yet another sadhu tried to scare him away by his ‘stone-rolling
device’. Bhagavan caught him red-handed, but bore him no ill-will. In
an attempt to acquire lordship over Bhagavan another sadhu ordered
Bhagavan to send Palaniswami away. When Bhagavan did not, he
spat on Bhagavan but he reacted not. Later he said, “After all this is
only a body that has been spat out many times.”7
His monumental forbearance is best revealed by the incident of an
accidental brush of his thigh against a hornets, nest while wending
his way up the hill.
While the disturbed hornets attacked him furiously, he did not
resist in the least, maintained the same calm position and putting up
with the unbearable pain. It was a revelation of perfect justice that
knows no fear or favour. When Muruganar wondered whether pain
unintentionally caused should warrant such forbearance. Bhagavan –
born to relieve the suffering of mankind by redeeming them – replied,
“The springing up of spontaneous regret and compassion at the pain
though caused accidentally, is but human nature and the leg deserved
the just punishment meted out by the angry hornets.” Palaniswami later
found each sting as long as a wire nail. The valour of jnana indeed
manifests as the triumph of compassion and grace.
An occurrence that demonstrated the spirit of ‘The Sermon on
the Mount’ is worth recalling. During the early stages of Ashram, a
band of robbers lured by the visits of increasing number of devotees
suddenly broke into the Ashram in the dead of night. On their breaking
the windows to gain entry into the room, Bhagavan had the door
opened telling them to take whatever they wanted. Further he asked
the disciples to provide them with the only light they had. When all
the inmates trooped out one by one the thieves freely used the sticks
on everyone including Bhagavan. He, just like Christ, offered the
other leg also to be struck if they were not satisfied.
6
Mudaliar, D., Day by Day with Bhagavan, 9-10-45.
7
Godman, D., Power of the Presence, Part I, p. 62.

32 January - March
 THE MAHARSHI: THE ONE AS ALL
When some devotees wanted to retaliate Bhagavan calmly
prevented them saying, “Sahanam (forbearance) is the dharma of
Sanyasa” and posed the question, “Do we knock out our teeth if they
bite the tongue?” The thieves contrary to their expectations found
nothing much. But Bhagavan suggested to them mercifully that they
should take the food available in the Kitchen. Later when the thieves
were caught and presented before Bhagavan to be identified, Bhagavan
declined to identify them saying, “I do not myself know whom I beat.
So, how can I find out and tell you the one who beat me?”8 thereby
revealing the eternal Truth, “We receive but what we give.”
The positive aspect of this is stated by Bhagavan in Nāṉ Yār as
follows:
“Who would refrain from giving away if one knows that one gives
to oneself whatever one gives to other.” Muruganar celebrates this
event as “showing compassion even to the robbers who void of love
beat him fiercely.”9
He was the highest tribunal of our conscience – Father Confessor
whose very presence washes away all our sins even before one compasses.
Perumal Swami, an ideal and devoted attendant of Bhagavan was
almost a shadow of Bhagavan and rendered unflinching service to the
Master. Later due to an inflated ego and greed he went to court against
the Ashram claiming ownership of Skandashram and management of
Ramana Ashram and even had Bhagavan questioned by court. But
towards the evening of his life, sick, penniless and in peril yet truly
remorseful and repentant he came back to Bhagavan like a prodigal
son saying he would only go to hell. Bhagavan at once said “I will be
present there also,” reminiscent of “I am with you always even unto
the end of the world.”10
“He indeed is the spring of Grace who provides succour to those
who think of him even forbearing all their faults.”11
In an unguarded moment this quality of him became an open
declaration from him. While reciting a song from Tiruvachakam
when Devaraja Mudaliar came to the line, “None who has grown a
8
Swami Natanananda, Ramana Darsanam.
9
Kīrttit Tiruvagaval, lines 291-92.
10
Matthew 28-2.
11
Muruganar V.I, Decad on Grace.

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MOUNTAIN PATH
tree will have the heart to fell it even if it should be a poisonous one,”
Bhagavan pre-empting Mudaliar uttered the next line “I am also of
that same quality, oh Lord,”12 which is but an echo of “Know you not
that I will never Leave Thee nor forsake Thee.”
He indeed was the universal Mother. Bestowing greater grace than
one’s begotten mother he was ‘the spring of Bliss that claiming the
surrendered ones forbears all the faults.’13
Some children do prove naughty but Bhagavan took care that
others did not wound their feelings. When an attendant for some
misdemeanour in town, was hounded and given a chase by those
people, he rushed to Bhagavan seeking his protection. Bhagavan took
him under his wings. Some wanted him to be sent away to save the
reputation of the Ashram. The utterance of Bhagavan “that many in
their midst were guilty of the same or even greater offence but non-
discovery had helped them” was a reminder “to look at the beam in
one’s own eye before one looks at the mote in another’s.”
“He maketh His Sun to rise on the evil and the good and sendeth
rain on the just and the unjust.”14
Humility, a virtue that is endless was practised by Bhagavan to
its perfection. Even as Bhagavan extols the “Wonder of Arunachala
gaining greatness by uniting Himself with the meek and the soft who
are even more and more humble”15 he in turn inspires Sivaprakasam
Pillai to laud him as ‘Blessed be the Feet of the exemplar of humility
who says the more one humbles oneself, the more one benefits.’16
His humility and submissiveness lent beauty and exaltation to jnana.
The face of God for him was everywhere. Blessed is the man who
looks upon everyone as God. When someone questioned how he felt
when so many prostrated before him, Bhagavan replied “Even before
they enter the room I pay my obeisance to them.”
When Seshagiri Iyer on meeting Bhagavan on the Hill said he had
had Bhagavan’s darshan, Bhagavan said, “Why don’t you say you
gave me your darshan?”
12
nāṉum aṅṅaṉē uḍaiya nādaṉē.
13
Muruganar, v. I. Decad on Grace.
14
Matthew v. 5:45.
15
Aruṇāchala Akṣaramaṇamālai, v. 83.
16
Ramana Pādamālai, v. 33.

34 January - March
 THE MAHARSHI: THE ONE AS ALL
Holy poverty was the ideal and the food was procured by bhiksha
and what was provided by Providence was enough. ‘Share everything
and share alike amongst all be they ordinary items or rarities without
saving for the morrow’ was the unwritten rule followed. Any special
treatment meted out was not tolerated. He insisted on others being
served first and he the last to ensure equal sharing. If all ate it was
tantamount to his eating. Thus he prove that Great souls eat just to
live and serve the world.
The life of this king of kings was indeed a lesson in submission.
When the kitchen fire started roaring high by the side of Him, the
Jnanagni, he calling himself as ‘Paṇilenivādu’ – jobless one – and
daily worked in the kitchen from 3 a.m. Any unjust behaviour on the
part of any in the dining hall would make him inflict self-punishment
and deny himself some dishes or courses without expressing it to
anybody. The offenders craving pardon would prostate and vow to
mend their ways.
After taking on the kitchen work, the constant grinding left both
his hands blistered. When Viswanatha Swami’s request to let him do
it went unheeded, he forestalling Bhagavan went early to the kitchen
and did all the work that Bhagavan used to do. Bhagavan said, “In the
early days I used to go for bhiksha. Now I am getting free food in the
Ashram. Hence I do some work. Since you’ve done my work please
give me your dhoti. I’ll wash it for you.”17 Perfection, humility, and
fairness were natural to him were natural to him.
Once it occurred that no one who walked through a dirty and dusty
room near the kitchen had the idea to tidy it, and Bhagavan started
to sweep and clean it himself. Many then volunteered but he refused
to accept their services.18
Muruganar thus hails this quality: “While devotees were ready to
carry out his commands he works as the lowliest among them.”19 To
bear and forbear was indeed his dharma. And this is hailed as ‘Not
accepting service’. He, on his own, with zeal and love, performed
many works.’20
17
Viswanatha Swami to Prof. K. Swaminathan, Face to Face with Sri Ramana
Maharshi, p. 68.
18
Annamalai Swami in Face to Face with Sri Ramana Maharshi, p. 207.
19
Tiruaṇḍappagudi, 335-6.
20
Kīrttit Thiruvagaval, 245-6.

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MOUNTAIN PATH
Great was the bounty of Guru Ramana. Truly speaking, he belongs
to none, yet he belongs to the whole world for he belongs only to the
ONE and that ONE becomes All.
Death has been called the ‘Leveller’ for only in the final resting
place equality prevails like nowhere else. Bhagavan’s presence, where
ego dies, was one such for access to him was easy and equal for all and
in the words of Ganapati Muni, ‘In a boy, a dull cowherd, a monkey
or a dog, a knave, a scholar or a devotee everywhere he beholds the
same Being without partiality.’21 ‘Even to those ignorant of letters and
numbers Venkata was a whirlwind of compassion.’22
The lustre of his grace shone on all devotees impartially inspiring
them to manifest the best and divine in them.
He was the friend of the lowly and meek. The milk of human
kindness was so overflowing in him that Ganapati Muni declares,
‘Compassion was not a quality of him but, Hridaya Tejas, the
effulgence of Heart’ and Jagadeeswara Sastri hails, ‘O Mother
Compassion, Thy Form Ramana.’
The slaking of the thirst of weary women with heavy loads of
grass on their heads on the hilly slopes in the hot sun was observed
by Bhagavan as a vow. He would even wait for them with cool water
and rice gruel.23
Once unmindful of everything he descended into a cleft in a rock
15 feet deep to relieve a little shepherdess of her sorrow when a sheep
of hers had slipped into it. Carrying it on his shoulders he climbed up
and restored it to the ecstatic joy of the little girl.
An incident that proved, ‘They also serve who only stand and
wait’ is that of Chinnappaiyan – a village milkman, who used to give
Bhagavan gruel when he was on the Hill. One day, later at Ramana
Ashram, after the sound of the lunch gong everybody assembled in
the dining hall. On his way to the hall espying Chinnappaiyan who
had brought gruel with great devotion and respect Bhagavan stopped,
and cupped his hands while the milkman, shy but elated, poured a thin
stream of porridge into them. Bhagavan enjoyed it as nectar while the
old man beamed with joy.24 Similarly, when the socially marginalised
21
Ramana Gita, Chapter 18, v. 22.
22
Muruganar, Thiruvindiya Mālai, v. 7.
23
Swaminathan, K., The Maharshi, p. 30.
24
Swaminathan, K., The Maharshi, p. 31.

36 January - March
 THE MAHARSHI: THE ONE AS ALL
people full of devotion were hesitant to approach him, he went near
them to bestow a rich bounty of grace was bestowed on them.
While in Skandashram, rain or shine, cold air or heavy dew, despite
all dissuasions, he would sit on a flat stone on the eastern side and
brush his teeth in the morning. It later transpired that it was for the
benefit of Sowbhagyathammal who too old and feeble to climb up
the Hill, could fulfil her vow of having food only after a darshan of
Bhagavan. Now she could see him from her house down the hill itself
while he brushed his teeth.25
One reason for his coming down from the Hill to the present
Ashram is out of compassion for the aged devotees. He who had
enjoyed total freedom in the Mansion of Father’s House, now for
the sake of devotees put up with the bondage or jail (in words of
Bhagavan) of a seat on a sofa behind railings.
Another touching expression of compassion and Grace was the
labour of love in transliterating his works which he alone could do
for the benefit of devotees regardless of the immense labour involved.
He often used his thigh as a table under a single light during night and
wrote with a pen that needed to be dipped in ink often.
Some devotees who ardently desired to compose verses but could
not do so, would be graced by Bhagavan who would write lovely
verses and put their name under it. Yet another act of grace was the
labour of patient corrections of mistakes from the copied versions of
Bhagavan’s and other works from the notebooks submitted to him
for perusal by devotees.
He was one who ruthlessly sacrificed his little comforts for the sake
of devotees who brought many food items not all of them well cooked
at all times of the day with no thought of their effect on his digestion.
Bhagavan would take just a wee bit with the cap of his finger.
He loved as a Mother, protected like a father and guided as a teacher
and often moved with devotees like a friend proving the Gītā dictum
v. 17&18, Chap. IX ‘I am the Father of the world, the Mother, the
supporter and the grandsire’.
‘I am the goal, the upholder, the witness, abode, refuge and friend.’
Be it burning sun or pouring rain he always walked barefooted
and used to visit Palākkothu between twelve and one. The bare sandy
25
Kunju Swami, The Silent Power.

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MOUNTAIN PATH
path would make walking impossible. While advising his attendants
to run for shelter under a tree he himself would walk with steady and
unchanged pace. Bhagavan took care to remove a thorn that Rangan
had stepped on but when he himself did step on one, Rangan to his
dismay found there innumerable ones old and new for he would simply
walk on crushing the thorn with his feet.
A sadhu who desired Bhagavan’s darshan during his last days
was turned away by the guards. He walked sadly from the office
towards the gate but when the sadhu passed Bhagavan’s room he
was astonished to find Bhagavan standing outside waiting for him.
They gazed at each other. The spiritual communication in Bhagavan’s
look having fulfilled his need and desire the sadhu went away with
his candle lit bright and shining.
He indeed is the Lord of solicitous love who sunders our karma.
A moneylender from the North whose activities were disliked by all
was a staunch devotee of Bhagavan. He lost all his wealth and his only
daughter became mad. During the last days of Bhagavan, he stood
outside in the long queue for darshan. None was allowed to talk with
Bhagavan or hand over any item. He dropped a piece of paper at his
feet and moved away. Bhagavan read it and sent for him. He looked
at him with intense grace and nodded his head in approval. He had
written, ‘Bhagavan, save me.’26
Muruganar extols this quality of Bhagavan as ‘One who averts
birth of those who seek him afraid of the bondage of their old Karma.27
‘He watched everyone with great solicitude and proved to be a
mother who takes medicine to cure the illness of her child.’28
When everyone was being administered castor oil Muruganar
declined to have his dose. Bhagavan on hearing it asked for
Muruganar’s dose as well as his one. While the extra dose had no
effect on Bhagavan, Muruganar had the effect of the purgative.29
A devotee Padma sent palm fruits through Raja Iyer to Bhagavan in
the Old Hall but kept herself away as she was unwell from a particular
type of indigestion. Bhagavan on learning the reason for her absence
26
Moments Remembered, p. 8.
27
pandittu niṉṟa pazhaviṉaikku añjit taṉpāl aḍaindu
candittu niṉṟavar jaṉmam tavirppavaṉ - Tiruvindiya Mālai, v.10.
28
Kīrttit Thiruvagaval, lines 7&8.
29
Godman, D., Power of the Presence, p. 207.

38 January - March
 THE MAHARSHI: THE ONE AS ALL
ate the fruits and she was relieved of her disease. From then on she
began taking food like a normal person.30
An ardent devotee, Mahadeva Iyer of Madurai once suffered from a
seizure of constant hiccups for a month. Bhagavan on perusing a letter
from his daughter beseeching him to cure her father of this disease at
once bade T.K. Sundaresa Iyer to write to him asking him to have dry
ginger powder with jaggery. In addition, asking Madhavan to bring
some of the same powder they had in the kitchen, Bhagavan ate some
and distributed the rest to all in the Hall.
The next day brought a letter from Mahadeva Iyer’s daughter that
her father was cured of his disease from one o’ clock the previous day
itself — exactly the time Bhagavan had the powder himself.
Counter to the normal run in the entire annals of guru-sishya
parampara (tradition) of a disciple rendering service to guru,
Bhagavan remains the classic example of a guru rendering service
to a devotee. Swami Pranavananda an old and fervent devotee while
on his way to the Ashram on a hot summer day could not proceed
beyond the steps due to heat and exhaustion and sat on them. Bhagavan
immediately hurried to him, washed his feet with water from his
kamandalu, provided soothing comfort by massaging his weary legs,
all to the extreme consternation of the devotee.
Nagasundaram the gentleman in charge of bringing cooks during
Jayanti and Mahapuja would also toil tirelessly in the kitchen along
with cooks. On one such occasion after working late into the night, he,
out of sheer exhaustion was sleeping near the kitchen clad in a mere
towel under the open sky and exposed to heavy dew. Bhagavan who
as usual got up early, saw him, brought his own shawl and covered
him.31 Muruganar sings in praise of this quality in Kīrttit Thiruvagaval
as ‘The Master not regarding the surrendered ones as servitors, cared
for them as Masters.’32 

30
Ramana Smrti, p. 174.
31
Moments Remembered, p. 10.
32
taṉadu aḍiyōrāt tāṉ karudādē tam’māl uḍaiyōṉāttāṉ tozhap peṟṟum. v. 243-244.

2024 39
Kunju Swami

Alan Tait

I first met Kunju Swami in the early 1980s. It was my regular

practice to go up the hill each day during midmorning to either
Skandashram or Virupaksha, as the mood took me. One day I was
alone in Skandashram and meditation was exceptionally still and
clear. When I eventually emerged, Kunju Swami was standing over
by the small balcony which overlooks the town. He saw me come
out and smiled and nodded, seemingly with approval as if he knew
my condition. I smiled back and made my way down to the town as
it was well past time for a meal at the ashram.
I chose to have only a light snack and instead of walking back to my
room at the ashram, I decided to go back up the hill, cool off with the
running water at Skandashram and sit up there again. While cooling
off with the water, a young man came out from the side verandah door,
saw me, then went to look over the edge to look down the hill as if
looking for someone. He then went to the gate and walked down to
the path. Finally, he returned and said to me, “Kunju Swami would
like you to have lunch with us.” I saw this as prasadam, so I happily
accepted.

2024 41
MOUNTAIN PATH
I walked up past the old kitchen room to the platform under the
big tree. Kunju Swami indicated for me to sit next to him and I had
lunch with a large family group. After some time I took my leave and
proceeded back to the ashram and quickly ascertained that it was quite
impossible to physically have been aware of my presence outside.
How did Kunju Swami know I was there?
A few years later I was again at the ashram and particularly enjoyed
the singing of a small group of devotees who would sit around Kunju
Swami in the corner of the main hall a few nights a week. I had never
heard it before. This was the beginning of the regular Tamil Parayana
that continues to this day.
I again returned in 1991 and arrived around 4 pm. As I was being
sent to my room it was graciously suggested I call by the rear of the
old dining hall (the new one had not been built then) and refresh with
the afternoon coffee. An old friend, a sannyasini called Om, recognised
me and called out loudly, “Kunju Swami is allowing people to meditate
with him every afternoon at 4.30 outside his room”. Well, I knew who
she was talking about, so I quickly finished my coffee, went to my
room, took a bath and changed my clothes, and went straight around
to Major Chadwick’s old room. It had a thatched verandah added to
the front, and I anticipated a bit of a crowd to take advantage of such
a rare opportunity. Years before I had similarly been able to sit with
the remarkably shining Viswanatha Swami. When I arrived, Kunju
Swami had a small chair he insisted I use, and Om and myself were
the only people there.
Sometimes Om would ask him a question, and invariably he began
the answer with the same words, “Bhagavan said …”
Every afternoon we sat there, and when the mosquitoes started
biting as dusk settled, he invited us to come into his room with him.
The dinner gong came and went as we sat in the depths of silence.
Every evening as I took my leave and returned to my room he would
say “Narayana”.
One evening was quite different. Mental stillness was almost total.
On the rare moment that a thought might arise, Kunju Swami would
quietly cough and that would return me to Silence. That would repeat
several times over the hours. Each time a thought arose, he would
cough and bring me back to the silence. Eventually I got up to leave

42 January - March
 KUNJU SWAMI
and this time he said “Santosham”. There was far more to Kunju
Swami than met the eye.
The following year I received a letter from friends who were
visiting the ashram, and they were present when Kunju Swami left
the body. In many ways it was the end of an era. Truly absorbed in
Arunachala. 

Who is Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi?

Carlos Grasso

• For many, many, many people Bhagavan simply doesn’t mean

anything. They never heard that name, or seen any image of him.
• For many, many people Bhagavan is just a person born in India,
usually related with an old photograph of a kind old man, a middle
aged half-naked man or an intense gazing young boy staring at the
camera.
• For many people He is a saint to be revered with daily pujas,
repeating his name and/or worshiping his image.
• For some people He is a teacher of Vedanta, and for others is a
teacher of Advaita Vedanta, who taught by example through the
means of compassionate actions, talks, writings, poems, songs but
most important, silence.
• For a few, Bhagavan is the dream figure that embodying the Self,
gives us dreamers the opportunity to wake up. The lion that wakes
up the elephant from his dream.
• For ‘I’ He is ‘I’. Oneself. Brahman.
The different ‘Bhagavans’ relate to us in the same way we see and
experience ourselves in relation to our own body, mind and self.
A body sees only bodies, worlds, objects of different kind.
A mind feels emotions, sees thoughts and concepts, day-dreams
and dream-thoughts of different kinds.
Self only knows Self.
Which Bhagavan do I relate to most?…

2024 43
The Grandeur of
Kāvyakantha’s
Poetry
V. Krithivasan

W hat makes good poetry? Eminent Sanskrit linguists of yore

answer this question thus:
“Good poetry does not command like a master, as do the scriptures.
It does not give advice like a friend as do the puranas. Good poetry
accomplishes its object by an intimate appeal, as the beloved wins
the heart of her lover; by her charm of address and pleasing tact of
expression laden with suggestions, finding her way straight to the
soul of her lover”.1 Such is the poetry of Kāvyakantha. He is at his
poetic best in his description of Bhagavan’s extraordinary qualities
in the last chapter of Ramana Gita. All the verses flow majestically
with the most pleasing usage of epithets. A few select verses from
this chapter are presented here.
Skanda-Ramana
It is well-known that Kāvyakantha once had an extraordinary
experience when he was sitting in the presence of Bhagavan Ramana
in the Pachaiamman temple. He saw a divine spark coming from above
and touching Bhagavan’s forehead six times. He felt that this signified
that Bhagavan was none other than Lord Skanda (Subrahmanya).
1
Sphotha and the Spoken Word – an article by Kapali Sastry.

2024 45
MOUNTAIN PATH
From then on, Kāvyakantha described Bhagavan Ramana as an avatar
or manifestation of Skanda, the son of Siva, whenever he had an
opportunity. In the last chapter of Ramana Gita, he refers to this firm
conviction of his, several times. He says that Bhagavan Ramana is the
third manifestation of Skanda, the other two being Kumarila Bhatta
(famous as the greatest interpreter of Mimamsa, which expounds Vedic
rituals) and Jnana Sambandha (the child poet who sang thousands of
devotional songs on Siva after drinking the Divine milk of Goddess
Parvati).
What is interesting is, Kāvyakantha goes to the extent of projecting
the other aspects of the legend of Skanda on to Bhagavan Ramana.
In the southern parts of India, Skanda is depicted as having two
consorts – Valli and Devasena. According to the legend, Devasena is
the daughter of Indra, the king of Devas, while the earthy Valli is the
adopted daughter of a tribal Chief. Kāvyakantha says that Bhagavan
Ramana also has Valli and Devasena as his consorts! Who are they?
  
  (18-4)
pariṇatāmraphalaprabha vigrahaṁ calatarendriyanigrahasagraham
amṛtacidghanavalliparigrahaṁ mitavacoracitāgamasaṅgraham
Bhagavan’s form (Vigraham) has the golden lustre of a ripe mango;
His firm grip (sagraham) on the control (nigraham) of the senses is
legendary; he is perennially enveloped or embraced (parigraham)
by the Valli (creeper) known as Pure Consciousness (cid-ghana);
the entire collective (sangraham) Wisdom of the scriptures can be
explained by him in pithy, terse, simple words (mita-vaco).
There is a play on the word Valli, which is the word for creeper
in Sanskrit and also the name of Skanda’s consort. Just as a creeper
goes around a support and tightly embraces it, this Valli, Pure
Consciousness, always embraces Bhagavan in a tight grip. The great
poet that he is, Kāvyakantha uses the word graham five times and
each time it gives a different meaning when combined with different
prefixes. What an exquisite verse! The first consort Valli is Pure
Consciousness, who holds Bhagavan Ramana in an endless embrace!

46 January - March
 THE GRANDEUR OF KAVYAKANTHA’S POETRY
The 14th verse is about Devasena :
    
   -   (18-14)
yasyādhunāpi ramaṇī ramaṇīyabhāvā gīrvāṇalokapṛtanā
śubhavṛttirūpā
saṁśobhate śirasi nāpi manojagandha-stattādṛśaṁ
gṛhiṇamapyadhipaṁ yatīnām
Here, the word gīrvāṇalokapṛtanā (daughter of the Heavens),
refers to Devasena. Full of endearing qualities (ramaṇīyabhāvā), this
charming damsel (ramaṇī) shines in the face of Bhagavan Ramana
(śirasi saṁśobhate) as Auspicious emanations (śubhavṛttirūpā). Even
so, Bhagavan Ramana is the Lord of Ascetics (adhipaṁ yatīnām).
Thus, the other consort Devasena is the perennial emanation of
auspiciousness that surrounds Bhagavan.
Harmony of incompatibles
Kāvyakantha describes how qualities that generally do not go together,
get blended and harmonised in Bhagavan in the verse below:
   
    (18-23)
śaktimantamapi śāntisaṁyutaṁ bhaktimantamapi bhedavarjitam
vītarāgamapi lokavatsalaṁ devatāṁśamapi namraceṣṭitam
Bhagavan is very powerful (śaktimantam) but exceedingly peaceful
(śāntisaṁyutaṁ). In general power and peace do not go together in
this world. The so called “powerful” people of the world are generally
anxious and can’t rest peacefully, as they unfailingly collect enemies.
Not so in the case of Bhagavan; his extraordinary peace itself makes
him powerful, in the spiritual sense.
Bhagavan is a great bhakta – but an unusual one, as he does not
see any separation between himself and Easwara (bheda varjitam). 
Bhakti generally implies duality – a bhakta is one who considers
himself distinct from God. Not the case here, as Bhagavan’s bhakti
is Ananya Bhakti; there is God alone, the individual ego is absent.
He is totally detached from everything (vītarāgam); but shows
boundless compassion to every creature around him (lokavatsalaṁ).

2024 47
MOUNTAIN PATH
Bhagavan’s engagement with the world, in spite of his total
detachment, is solely motivated by his compassion.
He is truly Divine (devatāṁśam) but has matchless humility
(namraceṣṭitam). His humility is to be seen to be believed. Volumes
have been written about these two characteristics of Bhagavan –
Divinity and humility.
The word ‘api’ in Sanskrit which means even though / in spite of,
is employed beautifully by Kāvyakantha in joyous celebration of the
qualities of one of the greatest sages the world has seen.
Dhyana Sloka
While performing ritualistic puja for a deity, it is customary to invoke
the presence of the deity by chanting a Dhyana Sloka, a verse that
brings out the form and characteristics of the deity. This is also used
before beginning meditation on the deity. These dhyana slokas are
inspired creations of saints of great repute, who were immersed in
devotion to their chosen god or guru.
In the last chapter of Ramana Gita, Kāvyakantha has presented to
us such a dhyana sloka which can be used to invoke the presence of
Bhagavan Ramana. In fact, Bhagavan himself had suggested that it
is fit to be chosen as a dhyana sloka. We will first see what this verse
is and later, the circumstances leading to Bhagavan’s suggestion.
        
       
(18-13)
nīlāravinda suhṛdā sadṛśaṁ prasāde tulyaṁ tathā mahasi
toyajabāndhavena
brāhmyāṁ sthitau tu pitaraṁ vaṭamūlavāsaṁ saṁsmāra
yantamacalaṁ tamanusmarāmaḥ
“In showering grace, he is like the moon, the friend of the blue
waterlily. In the same way, in lustre he is like the sun, the kinsman
of the lotus. In his Brahmic state, he reminds us of his Father
abiding under the Banyan tree. Him, the motionless one we lovingly
remember.”
Bhagavan’s grace in the form of his uplifting presence is available
to everyone, like the moon’s soothing rays. When dispelling the
darkness of the heart, he shines like the resplendent sun. He is always

48 January - March
 THE GRANDEUR OF KAVYAKANTHA’S POETRY
in the Brahmic state, reminding one of his Father Dakshinamurti
seated under the Banyan tree, expounding in silence the principle of
the Supreme Truth. He is described as achala, unmoving, symbolised
by the mountain Arunachala. Moon is the symbol of Bliss or Ananda,
the sustaining essence in all creatures. Sun represents knowledge as
Consciousness, Chit. The Brahmic state denotes Sat or Pure Existence.
Thus, the Maharshi is the divine manifestation of Sat-Chit-Ananda,
Brahman in human form.
Kapali Sastry, Kāvyakantha’s scholarly disciple wrote a
commentary on Ramana Gita (which he called as Ramana Gita
Prakasha). He came to meet Bhagavan in 1941 to present his
commentary. He read out the slokas in each chapter and the detailed
explanation from the Prakasha. When he finished explaining this
particular verse, he was delighted to hear Bhagavan himself giving a
lengthy commentary on this verse.
To quote Kapali Sastry, “When I came to the verse nilaravinda
the Maharshi made a remark. Speaking for five to ten minutes, he
stated, naming a gentleman, ‘He said that the verse is quite fit to be
the Dhyana Sloka of the whole Gita’. It is very significant that Sri
Maharshi, who had been silent so far, quoted here approvingly the
opinion of another that this should be considered a verse appropriate
to describe the Maharshi himself. There are two elements in the verse
which I may note in passing: one is the blooming of the eyes. The other
is the Silence by which Shiva as Dakshinamurti teaches his disciples2.”
Kapali Sastry made a slight change at the end of the original verse
of Kāvyakantha to make it general so that all can use it as a dhyana
sloka. (In the original verse, Kāvyakantha says, achalam tam anuditam
me, meaning ‘He is achala, my brother, born after me.’ The modified
sloka presented here ends as achalam tam anusmaramah which means,
‘He is achala, whom we lovingly remember’. 

2
Sastry, Kapali. Dedication of Ramana Gita: Prakasha.

2024 49
MOUNTAIN PATH

Photograph

50 January - March
HOW I CAME TO BHAGAVAN

Diving into the

Deep Ocean
Virupaksha

‘H ow I came to Bhagavan’ is the experience of love at first sight

with Guru Ramana, which is always an interesting and dear
topic of discussion for fresh seekers. ‘Ramana’, the word means a
sole lover, husband, or the one eternally established in the mind. The
Guru or god plays the role of a husband or Master of the devotee
who can love him like a chaste wife. There is a saying in Kannada,
‘Sharana sathi, Linga pathi’ which means, Sharana – a realised pure
devotee; sathi – means wife. Linga is god and pathi means husband, a
cordial true relation of souls is like that between a Guru and disciple,
the Lord and a devotee.
I recorded my experiences after arriving and settling with Bhagavan
Ramana Maharshi. Every seeker who once visits Arunachala or
Bhagavan impromptu wishes to settle here for good due to its soaring
spiritual magnetism. On the poornima full moon day, lakhs of devotees
from all over the country visit Arunachala. Lord Shiva himself has
manifested as Arunachala hill and Guru Ramana is the beacon of

Shilpi Virupaksha Davangere is a civil engineer, who received a doctorate

from Mysore University for his Kannada literary research works on Allama
Prabhu and Shishunāla Sherief. He presently resides at Arunachala.

2024 51
MOUNTAIN PATH
Arunachala. My heart says that Guru Ramana is himself Lord Shiva.
Since my childhood, I had an intense desire to see Lord Shiva in a form
and hence visited many holy places, met sadhus, gurus, sanyasins, and
siddhas in quest of Shiva. I also had planned to visit mount Kailāsh in
the Himalayas, the abode of Lord Shiva. Surprisingly one day I saw a
video clip of Sri Ramana descending from Arunachala hill towards the
ashram. My gaze stopped at his renunciant bare body with a walking
stick in his hands. I found Lord Shiva himself in the form of Ramana
with a trishul in his hand. My whole being was bathed in nectar and my
search for Lord Shiva had met its endpoint! As Ramana says, “Kailash
is the abode of Lord Shiva while Arunachala is Lord Shiva himself.”
Hence, the desire of visiting mount Kailash was satisfied! All that is
found in Kailash are also present in Arunachala! The inner and outer
pradakshina paths, Parvathi kunda, Nandi mukha, Yamadwar etc. I
do feel that an ordinary sādhak like me will be unable to withstand
the biting cold temperatures of the Himalayas at that high altitude and
is unconducive for a comfortable, peaceful life required for spiritual
sādhana. Though the very hot temperatures of Arunachala in summer
(from March to June) possess a challenge for one like me from a fairly
cool place, a seeker loves to be here for one’s spiritual upliftment.
Many foreign seekers settle in Arunachala to do Self-enquiry and
achieve liberation. They abandon everything to fulfil their spiritual
ambition. Such is their love for Arunachala and Ramana.
An experience of visiting places like Ramanasramam or
Arunachala differs with that of settling forever. For instance, in
a rice shop, the seller gives a sample of rice for free to assure its
quality to the customers. While if the customer wants a bag of rice
for daily use, he has to pay and carry himself the load. Likewise
visiting Ramanasramam as a visitor with free accommodation and
food for three days and its experience is like the free sample of rice.
But settling there permanently calls for great inner strength and one-
pointedness. It is human nature to get attracted to unreal, temporary
objects. To engage in the quest of Reality, which is one’s own Self,
is definitely a difficult task. Waves of ocean catch our attention but
not the depth of the ocean. Whereas a deep diver only would focuses
on the ocean rather than on the waves. Some of the devotees suffer
from loneliness, boredom, intolerance to heat, ill health etc. But once

52 January - March
 DIVING INTO THE DEEP OCEAN
caught in the jaws of a human tiger i.e., Guru Ramana, nobody can
escape from his clutches.
As my memory goes, probably, my first visit to Ramanasramam
was in the year 1990. I came with a saintly lady who was a staunch
devotee of Sri Aurobindo and The Mother. This was my first meeting
with Guru Ramana. My spiritual state at that time was like that of a
man already wet by the rains and now diving into a lake with water
overflowing with the torrent of rains. The exalted ecstasy I experienced
in Arunachala with Ramana was akin to the joy of a gopika dancing
with Lord Krishna while holding his soft hands on the banks of
Yamuna on a full moon night.
Later from 1991, I became a regular visitor every year with a group.
After a long span of 25 to 30 years, I then realised that spirituality is
not an easy nut to crack as projected by many of the modern spiritual
Gurus. It demands total surrender of one’s life and more for realising
the unknown truth. Blessed are they who have settled in Arunachala,
who are but ordinary human beings chosen for final liberation.
Ramana’s teachings, “You are not in the world. The world is within
you,” made me see in a new light. His statements like, “See whether
you are born? One has to make efforts to be effortless. At last one has
to drop all that one knows for the sake of realisation. Self need not be
realised, it is self-evident. Only the ignorance needs to be removed.
God, Self, Guru are one and the same. God is not an object to be seen.
It is the subject, the seer! Mind is not true, it does not exist. It is only
a huge bundle of thoughts. Mind vanishes when the Self is realised.
Mind-free state is mukti.”
This and many more pearls of wisdom made me more inquisitive
and yearn for the ultimate realisation. So far, I had come across many
masters who posed as pearls but they were only seashells thrown
onto the shore. They cannot give you the real pearl but can only give
colourful verbal explanations of the pearl. In recent times, many
modern Gurus with their eloquent, attractive speech captivate the
attention of many and claim for themselves authority as jagadgurus.
Leaves, flowers, branches, fruits attract people but not the unseen
root. Only a farmer who has planted the seedling can recognise the
root with its growth. Spirituality is not a bed of roses. People are
influenced by the outward looks of modern gurus and their slippery,

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MOUNTAIN PATH
evasive preaching that quickly fades like dry grass to fire. Actual
spirituality is like the burning of a log of wood, slow and steady. One
cannot cook in the fire of burning dry grass.
Introspection
Spiritual attainment is not just the result of days, months, years or
decades. It is the tapas of innumerable lives. Choosing, surrendering
to a master depends on our ripeness, karma, vāsana and samskāra.
The transformation of Valmiki from a hunter to a rishi; Vemana yogi
from a lecher to a siddha; Buddha from a prince to an awakened one,
are all examples of previous spiritual practice which transformed
their present lives in an instant. These are examples of the externally
visible fruits and flowers of a plant while the root hidden represents
the unknown actual subjective being.
Guru Ramana attained Self-realisation at the age of sixteen through
an act of death play. That turned the lad into a Maharshi. But for 54
years thereafter, he lived like the humblest of the humble. Such a
sacrifice is required in one’s present lifetime to attain Him. The Self
manifests through the body, sense organs, intellect, mind, chitta and
soul energy. A strong, beautiful, healthy young body attracts the world.
But does it last forever? No! It is a well-known bitter reality of mortal
life. Intellectuals, artists, scientists, athletes, achievers are adored
and respected by the society. But do they last forever? Happiness,
joy, pleasure, satisfaction gained from these external modes of life
do not last long.
Yes, there is a way out. Eternal happiness, bliss, ultimate everlasting
joyousness can be attained through eradication of the ego or by Self-
realisation. A modern guru declared saying, “Look Sri Ramakrishna
took 30 years to give samadhi experience to Vivekananda. But we will
give you samadhi in this short course made available to you and create
many more Vivekanandas. The present world moves at jet speed and
we too have to act fast, you know.” These were the words of a self-
proclaimed guru whom I had met in my early days of spiritual search.
On hearing his talk, I said to myself “No, this is not the pearl that I
searched for.” The many failures in the search intensified my quest
and inspired me to dive deep into the ocean for the real pearl. I thank
the masters who planted in me the spirit of quest for the eternal truth.

54 January - March
 DIVING INTO THE DEEP OCEAN
Sadguru Shishunāla Sherief, Jagajyōthi Basavēshwara, Akka
Mahādēvi, Sri Ramakrishna, Buddha, Jesus, Mahatma Gandhi etc. are
my gurus who taught bhakti (devotion) and the passion for truth and
God. I was contented and joyous in their satsang. Then Lord Shiva
connected me to Sadguru Ramana for advaitic jnana. Through his
divine play, he initially cut off the roots of karma by withdrawing
me from my professional commitments, which had been picked up
from the existing bondages, and He cut off the roots of my deluded
passion for fake relationships. By his grace, I settled permanently at
Arunachala from the first of January, 2017. I got a small rented house
at Thamarai Nagar at first.
As I settled here at Arunachala for Ramana, my life changed with
new commitments and disciplines. I had read that Sri Ramana used to
wake up at 3 am and start his routine. I too soon learnt adhere to the
same routine. In those days the whole Arunachala appeared as a real
Kailash, since everyone including foreigners had the glittering lustre of
bhasma (ash) on their forehead. Every devotee had a glow of divinity.
Shiva devotees circumambulate Arunachala on barefoot in all seasons,
at all times throughout the year and around the clock. I have been to
many sacred places, visited jyothirlingams, Chardham, Amarnath,
Vaishnodevi etc. and also the annual car festivals of various mystics.
I have undeniably experienced the divine vibrations at all these sacred
places. Despite this, after settling in Arunachala, I have cherished the
same serenity of all the temples in totality, including the Kailash!
Arunachala has the unique feature of stilling the mind and annihilating
the ego of living beings. Self-realisation is nothing but the egoless
state. The first verse in Aksharamanamalai is ‘Aruṇāchalameṉa
agamē niṉaippavar agattaivē raṟuppāy Aruṇāchala’ which means
“Thou dost root out the ego of those who meditate on thee in the heart,
O Arunachala.” Sri Ramana Maharshi assures that just a thought of
Arunachala in the depth of one’s Heart can grant moksha.
People usually have pride on their native places. I initially thought
these were the admiring words alone of Sri Ramana on Arunachala
which came out of his deep devotion. But gradually I could experience
its vibrations and realised the divine serenity of Arunachala and of Sri
Ramana. I felt as if I was amidst the 63 Shaivite Nayanmars whose
lives were like roaring devotional waterfalls sprinkling drops of Shiva

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MOUNTAIN PATH
bhakti all around. Bhagavan Ramana was also drenched in the floods
of their devotion and his being was swept away in their devotional
ecstasy. In the same way in twelfth century, Bhakti Bhandāri
Basavēshwara formed an amazing spiritual gathering at Kalyana in
Karnataka which was a novel revolution of devotion. At that point
of time, the whole of Kalyana was filled with Shiva devotees who
were called Shiva Sharanas, Annadāsōha bhavans, Shiva temples,
Anubhāva mantapa. The Shiva Sharanas had the tripundra on their
forehead, a lingam tied to their necks, rudraksha covered as wreaths
around shoulders, earrings, bracelets and shoulder girdles etc. The
whole city was drenched in the devotional rain of Sri Basavanna and
Sri Allama Prabhu.
The divinity of Arunachala reminds me of those times as the
same divine vibrations and impulses are hovering in and around us
dissolving the present deluded materialistic world. I am astonished
to see the ocean of devotees flooding around Arunachala on and
around each full moon day. An aerial drone view shows a huge river
of devotees flowing around Arunachala and simulates a garland of
divine flowers placed at the feet of Shiva standing, uniting the earth
of devotion with the sky of knowledge. How and who can explain
this glory of Arunachala and Sri Ramana?
Nobody starves without food here. Sadhus, sanyasis get their food
at their places in time. The Lord provides everything that is needed
by inspiring the minds of his staunch devotees. Hence, sanyasis are
called maharajas in North India and indeed at Arunachala, they live
like maharajas of the kingdom of renunciation.
My daily routine is, I wake up at or before 3:30 am, complete
my ablutions, finish my regular simple pūjā, read for a while and
leave the house by 4:45 am and enter Ramanasramam. In the early
morning, at the shrine of Sri Bhagavan, when there are but very few
devotees, I move around the divine king with a loincloth, which
gives me an inexplicable, divine dense feeling. As I circumambulate
him, an engrossing stillness releases me from the clutches of mind.
Meditation happens by itself. The Guru speaks in silence and answers
the inner queries inducing a steady tempo in the mind that flows with
freshness throughout the day. At times, emotions pour out and I burst
out into tears. Each morning is new and afresh. My realisation of

56 January - March
 DIVING INTO THE DEEP OCEAN
Bhagavan has changed overtime and I feel he is beyond my perception
and projections. Day by day he is getting closer to my heart. I have
stopped circumambulating Arunachala due to physical reasons. So,
I circumambulate Bhagavan’s shrine. The inner samadhi prakaram
and around the whole of the Matrubhuteshwar shrine, meditation hall,
well etc. are the outer path of Arunachala girivalam for me. Once Lord
Ganesh circumambulated Lord Shiva and mother Parvathi considering
them as the whole universe. The same holds good for me.
Each dawn unveils a fresh feeling of beatitude in me while
circumambulating him. My being sails into meditation. When I
prostrate at the lotus feet of the master’s portrait in the Old Hall, I
feel a touch of warmth is reminded of a saying, “One can procure
everything in the world but not gurupādam”. Grace and whole energy
of the master is hidden in his feet as Trimurtis, Lord Brahma, Vishnu
and Shiva dwell at his lotus feet! Hence, our ancient scriptures say,
‘Gurur Brahmā Gurur Viṣṇuḥ Gurur devo Maheśvaraḥ, Guruḥ
Sākṣāt Parabrahma Tasmai Śrī Gurave Namaḥ.’ Yes, the guru has
the power to create, sustain and dissolve like the Trimurthis. And
worshipping the feet of the master is considered as a sacred act of
divinity in our Indian culture. If a pure devotee performs guru pāda
pūjā wholeheartedly, soon the kuṇḍalinī energy gets evoked and it is
said that nectar flows down from sahasrāra towards his feet. Hence
gurupādodaka (sanctified water collected bathing the guru’s feet) is
served as ‘tīrtha’ to devotees. It has a medicative power for the illness
of body and mind!
When devotees grieved at the illness of Sri Ramana, he assured
them in his last days, “You say, I am going away. Where can I go? I
am here forever”. His words prove true even today. He left his mortal
body in 1950. But even after seven decades, the routine of the ashram
is ever the same as earlier without any impediment. And even now,
devotees visit the Maharshi’s shrine as earlier and in more numbers.
All prayers and questions are answered even more intensively. The
same divine silence and solemnity at the Samadhi, the same routine of
daily pārāyaṇam, nārāyaṇa seva, pūjā etc. goes on unaltered. When I
watch an earnest devotee prostrating, it is as though I am prostrating
in front of living Ramana, with the same humbleness, submission and
feeling of benevolence. I have never once felt that Ramana is dead

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Samuel T. Rappold on Arunachala in October 1949
MOUNTAIN PATH
or he is a stone or a photograph. He is always here as he was and as
he assured his devotees. It is my belief that the ashram is running as
per his divine wish and he is the Sarvādhikari in reality. Every act is
designed and executed as per his wish. All are puppets in his divine
play. Every individual devotee’s ego is tempered in one or other way
through various incidents and turns their minds inward. Scriptures
say ‘yad bhāvaṁ tad bhavati’ i.e, as the projection of self, so is the
creation. That is, the external creation is the manifestation of our inner
being or what we feel within, and we see the same outside.
Bhagavan at first, did not accept me at his feet. He sent me back
twice, once creating an illness which made me go back and yet another
time during the COVID pandemic. I went back to Karnataka as per the
orders. I thought that Ramana is everywhere and that I need not come
back until he calls me. I settled in my place and resumed my karmic
job. But within nine months, he called me and this is how he did it.
It was a summons from Ramana! One night, my breath choked and a
fear of death took over me. I anticipated death every now and then, and
thought probably this is the final day. Then I had to undergo hospital
treatment and a procedure. But even after that ‘marana bhayam’ (fear
of death) was ruling over me and then I realised that it is the call from
the Guru, hence I returned back to Arunachala.
Many more wonderful miracles took place to hold me to
Arunachala Ramana yet again I had come back to my native during
the pandemic whence again he called me back with the same intense
feeling of ‘maraṇa bhayam’. In January 2022, I returned once for all
to die at Arunachala or live with Guru Ramana as long as ‘HE’ wishes.
My decision of never quitting Arunachala gave me a sense of deep
relief from the fear and pains of the body that disappeared gradually.
I wished to settle in many holy places but he at last brought me here
to my last destination. Ramana is guiding me at every step and he
says “Focus only on me i.e. Self.” Do not wander here and there. He
also has given assurance that my ego will wither. He is unveiling
the unexplained, the unrealised essence of his teachings through
experiences, thus proving that one can lead a good life even in the
absence of the normal mind that throws up innumerable thoughts and
perform routine works in the world.

58 January - March
 DIVING INTO THE DEEP OCEAN
Gradually I am feeling comfortable with Sadguru Ramana who is
holding my hands protecting me from the delusion of Māyā. He surely
can grant salvation to devotees like he did to his mother Azhagammal
by dissolving the mind in her spiritual heart. For if mind or ego is not
submerged in the source i.e., the Heart, it will certainly return again
and again to take birth.
At times while circumambulating the shrine, a sudden wave of
shock or dragging pain appears in the lower spine. I recall words of
a yoga master about kuṇḍalinī śakti and that it indicates the rise of
the kuṇḍalinī. But then, an inner voice awakens me, “To whom is
kuṇḍalinī rising?” and suddenly the thought process stops. Thus the
Guru is guiding me in the ultimate journey eradicating all deviations.
I have had experiences of the divine silence in meditation and of
the power of God through miracles. Innumerable miracles, prodigious
events occurred before me and through me as a proof for the existence
of God. But none existed for long. I feared that the impermanence of
these experiences would divert me as I knew truth is everlasting. I
was in turmoil due to the limitations of my experiences. I yearned for
the everlasting, eternal truth. In the teachings of Ramana, I traced the
ultimate truth which lies beyond the mind and its perceptions. His life
illustrated the efforts and tapas needed to attain the ultimate reality
and retain it unperturbed.
‘Aiyē ati sulabham, Āṉma viddai aiyē ati sulabham’1 says Ramana.
I do believe it though it is an apt elucidation of his being and holds
good for Ramana and higher souls like him, but a mirage for me. Yes,
it may happen if I live like him, purely established in the Self state.
Thus, the universal Guru Ramana is playing the role of Moksha Guru
in my life. He has shown me the true purpose and goal of life and the
way of attaining that. I feel like a river flowing unceasingly with its
sound of turbulence reaching its abode in the ocean of silence.
In my earlier days, I took Ramana to be a human being who
attained divinity. I also believed that Advaita cannot be my way of
life. It can be but only a part of my life. I thought that Ramana, an
Advaitic Guru cannot descend and reach the common men just as
Sri Ramakrishna, Guru Basaveshwara and Mahatma Gandhi did.

1
Ah, extremely easy, ātma-vidyā [ānma viddai, knowing oneself], extremely easy.

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MOUNTAIN PATH
They all lived as samsaris and could understand the difficulties of
a common man. While Ramana is a flower in the sky and me just a
bee on the ground. How can we ever meet? A shiva sharana of the
12th century Devara Dāsimaiah expresses in a verse, ‘Odalugondava
Hasiva, Odalugondava husiva..odalugondavanendu neenomme jaridu
nudiyadirā.. nee ennanthomme odalugondu nodā Rāmanātha’which
means ‘One who has a body feels hunger, one who has a body tells
lies. Do not comment by underestimating my being in the body, O
Lord, for you too descend down like me with a perishable body and
see O! Ramanatha.” But Ramana insists on, ”No existence of body,
mind, ego, pain. Everyone is realised but ignorant of it.” Look at the
disparity in the comments! The solidity of Ramana and fluidity of
a Sharana. Spiritual fluidity attracts the common man as it has the
ability to flow down tino the reach of a devotee.
Then at last, I realised the spiritual impact of a yogi or mahatma
indicates the depth of his being rather than words or a lifestyle. To
get rid of the miseries, sufferings, fear and to attain everlasting joy or
peace, advaita is the only recourse. We cry for god, but for how long,
for what length of time can one cry for him? We worship, do bhajans,
praise him with all external modalities of devotion but these are short
lived. But one’s Self in pure beingness, like the breath which is in us,
remains eternal. Being the Self is of prime importance not the path
followed to reach it. Paramahamsa Sri Ramakrishna ever was in the
Self even while acting as a devotee of goddess Kali, the divine mother!
I pray Lord Ramana to kill my mind without it reviving, even up to
its last breath. ‘Keep me thoughtless’ is my sincere heartfelt prayers to
Him. My last act of surrender is ‘Grace me to visit ashram regularly
for your darshan. For I believe He fulfills my prayer.’ 

The author of the article Moksopaya: Kashmir's Treasure of

Non-Duality beginning on page 71 of the October 2023 edition
of the Mountain Path is Timothy Conway and not Tim Conway
as stated. Timothy’s richly layered spiritual website may be
located at https://www.enlightened-spirituality.org/

60 January - March
KEYWORD

Śūnyam: the Void

Part Four
B.K. Croissant

S ometimes playful jokes can carry uncanny meaning. This one,

for instance. The Buddha received a gift lovingly tied with a bow.
When unwrapped, the box in which the present would have been found,
was perfectly empty, to which the Awakened one exclaimed, “Aha!
Just what I wanted. Nothing!”
That ‘nothing’ can go a long way including the exact opposite of
its literal meaning. In other words, ‘nothing’ is really ‘everything’,
meaning the infinite expanse of Brahman, fullness, the whole
as beautifully expressed in the well-known verse 5.1.1 of the
Bṛhadāraṇyaka Upaniṣad dated around the Seventh or Sixth Century
B.C.E.
Om. Infinite is That [Brahman], infinite is this [manifested
universe]. From the Infinite [Brahman] proceeds the infinite. [After
the realisation of the Great Identity or after the cosmic dissolution],
when the infinity of the infinite [universe] merges [in the Infinite
Brahman], there remains the Infinite [Brahman] alone.1
1
Swami Nikhilananda, The Principal Upanishads, Advaita Ashrama.

B.K. Croissant first encountered Bhagavan in 1993. She retired in 2006 after
serving as a senior administrator in the arts and humanities at the Smithsonian
Institution in Washington, D.C. Since then sādhana has been her highest
priority and greatest joy.

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Nothingness can be expressed by different words in Sanskrit, one
of which, śūnyam, occurs repeatedly in Śri Devikālottara Jnānācāra
Vicāra Paṭalaḥ, a chapter devoted to the means for obtaining jñāna
or liberation as taught by Lord Siva to his consort. This is the fourth
and final article on a keyword inspired by it. The first and second
articles focused on ālamba, meaning attachments or adjuncts of any
kind, and the third on cal or cañc, meaning to move, be unsteady,
which is the nature of the mind.2
The chapter is a rare example of the teachings of advaita in one
of the twenty-eight Āgama Sāstras and is directed to devotees who
are at the final stage of maturity, in other words, to those who have
already acquired considerable purity of mind through various spiritual
disciplines and who are ripe for the highest knowledge. Contrary to his
usual habit of composing verses only in response to specific requests
from ardent devotees, Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi translated all
eighty-five verses of this chapter at Virupaksha Cave without any
external prompting whatsoever. His translation is a gem all the more
so in that comparing it to the quite beautiful but often ambiguous
original Sanskrit verses gives us the opportunity to appreciate the
light he compassionately sheds on them, which was done entirely for
the benefit of sincere seekers.
Śūnyam is a neuter noun from the verbal root śvi meaning to swell.
It denotes a void, vacuum, empty or deserted place. In philosophical
terms, it means non-entity or absolute non-existence and can refer
to a Buddhist doctrine that disclaims all realities of any sort. On the
other hand, it also signifies space, heaven, atmosphere and is a name
of Brahman. Śūnya as an adjective in a compound meaning ‘without’
occurs several times in Devikālottaram but is not the focus of this
article nor is an exploration of śūnyam in a Buddhist context.
Śūnyam appears for the first time in verse 14, but before it
occurs, Lord Siva has already expounded important elements of his
teaching in verses 3-9. The ultimate path of jñāna must be followed
steadfastly, with no doubts or desires, and cannot be obtained by
2
For more context about the text, see the first article in the April-June 2023 issue
of the Mountain Path. Another keyword, na kiñcit, meaning ‘nothing at all’, was
the subject of an article inspired by the Aṣṭāvakra Gītā (see the July-September
issue of the Mountain Path).

62 January - March
 KEYWORD
endless studying of scriptures. Control of the restless mind is the only
means to liberation and transcends all other spiritual practices. He
who accomplishes that has attained the purpose of all human birth.
When the mind moves even a little, that is saṁsāra, and when it is
motionless, that is liberation, the highest happiness devoid of the
world and sense objects, attachments, action and thoughts of any kind.
That immaterial and indivisible void (śūnyam), which is nothing
other than awareness with the aspect ‘I am’, is declared the
seed of liberation that produces supreme knowledge.3
Lord Siva then asserts in no uncertain terms, in verses 15-22, that
the highest truth in the Vedas can only be known through jñāna,
which is the Direct Path. Turn the outward-wandering mind inward
and cling to the reality that is all-pervasive, formless, indivisible and
self-luminous. Turn away from action tainted by desire and attend
only to that which cannot be seen. In fact, the world and the individual
soul are non-existent. Merge and become one with the unchanging,
eternal whole which exists without any support whatsoever. Next we
are given a powerful analogy in verse 23. Here it is both in Sanskrit
and in Tamil.4
      
   
vyomākāraṁ mahā-śūnyaṁ vyāpakaṁ yo na bhāvayet |
saṁsārī sa bhavelloke bīja-kośa-krimir yathā ||
Whoever does not attend to the all-pervading great void, the
form of space, he will become a saṁsāri in the world like the
silkworm in its cocoon.

3
All the Sanskrit verses in this article have been translated by the author who takes
full responsibility for any errors therein. This translation and all others by the
author in this article do not include additions made by Bhagavan.
4
This article, and all the others in the series examining verses from Devikālottara,
would not be possible without the extremely generous assistance of Michael James.
Throughout he has provided word by word translations of Bhagavan’s Tamil
version, transliterations, explanatory paraphrases and more. His extraordinary
depth of knowledge and understanding of Bhagavan’s teaching benefits all sincere
devotees on the Direct Path.

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MOUNTAIN PATH

   

   — 
   
  .
viyōmavaḍi vāhum viyāpakamā śūṉya
miyādoruvaṉ bhāvit tiḍāṉē — liyāṇḍumavaṉ
bījakō śakkirumi pōlap pirapañca
pāśasamu sāriyām pār.
In the kaliveṇbā extension of this verse, before the first word
Bhagavan added uruvaṯṟēka, which is a compound of three words
(uru aṯṟu ēka), ‘one devoid of form’, so with these words the extended
version means:
If anyone whosoever does not contemplate the all-pervading
great void, which is the form of one space devoid of form, he will
always be a world-ensnared saṁsāri, like a cocoon worm. See.
In addition to uru aṯṟu and ēka, Bhagavan adds other words in
his Tamil translation, namely, yāṇḍum (always), pāśa (noose) and
pār (see), that each shed light on the meaning of the original verse
in Sanskrit.
Why ēka (one)? Because in advaita there is no two, no second or
third person, no other. Pure consciousness ‘I am’ knows only itself.
The ego, the ‘I am the body’ thought, the superimposed snake on the
rope, exists only in its own view. When examined, it merges back
into its source having no reality of its own. There is only one Reality.
Why uru aṯṟu (devoid of form)? Because God and guru are not
limited by form. Our true nature is formless. In order to see that truth,
which Bhagavan states over and over again in his teachings, the
ego, which thrives on grasping form, must be completely destroyed.
Knowing God is being devoured by God, and contemplating or
attending to God without form, thought or ego, is simply being.
Summā iru (just be).
Why yāṇḍum (always)? Because unless the mind is brought under
control, the cycle of birth and death can never, ever be broken. Unless
the ego is rooted out, misery will never, ever be ended. It’s as simple
as that!

64 January - March
 KEYWORD
Why pāśa (noose)? Because the world, which is nothing but
thoughts, is like a noose. Here Bhagavan is making concrete, with a
simple noun, what is implied in the original Sanskrit verse. We are
ensnared by a noose of our own making. Like the insect that weaves
a cocoon, we weave our own misery by attending to our thoughts,
which spring from seeds or vāsanās within that are projected outside
as the world before us, believing all of that to be real. Note that the
word for cocoon, bīja-kośa, literally means a case full of seeds.
Why pār (see)? Because Bhagavan wants us to dig deeply into
the very simple truth of this verse and its powerful simile. He wants
us to dwell on its importance and is encouraging us to experience its
implications. If we practice turning inward to seek the source of ‘I’,
we will indeed see for ourselves our own true nature.
Verse 24 is a continuation of verse 23 and gives the means for
attaining salvation.
This is the great affliction of all beings in all forms of birth
experienced over and over again. To abandon all suffering,
earnestly contemplate the great void (mahā-śūnyam).
According to verse 25, spiritual practices involving the body, speech
and mind are necessary in the beginning so that we may cultivate
desire-less devotion but must eventually be transcended so that all
paths based on external supports of any kind, even a name of God, are
abandoned. Once the ego is destroyed, all of our attention is on what
remains, śunyam, the great void. In other words, we go from attending
to objects, adjuncts and thoughts to unwavering attention on pure being.
Verse 26 contains an arresting metaphor in which pure awareness
‘I am’ is the missile, arrow or sword of those who abide permanently
as ātma svarūpa. It takes us back to the beginning when, in verses 6-9,
Lord Siva gave the highest honour to the one who can tame the mind.
  
     
pātālācchakti-paryantaṁ sarvam etad abhīpsitam |
bhagnaṁ yaiḥ śūnyam-astreṇa te smṛtāḥ śūnya-vedinaḥ ||
They are remembered as knowers of the void by whom all this
which is desired, from the degenerate world extending as far as
śakti, is destroyed with the weapon of void (śūnyam-astreṇa).

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MOUNTAIN PATH

   

   — 
   
  .
pātalamuṉ bāhap paharśatti yantamā
yādarap paṭṭavivai yattaṉaiyum — vīdaluṟuñ
cūṉiyamā mattiraṅkoṇ ḍārālē śūraravar
śūṉiya ñāṉiyarāc cuṭṭu.
In the kaliveṇbā extension of this verse, before the first word
Bhagavan added tiṭpamām, an adjective that means ‘powerful’,
‘firm’ or ‘certain’ and implies ‘unfailing’. Though in the verse this
adjective comes immediately before pātalam, ‘the lowest world’,
when the words of the verse are rearranged in natural prose order, it
would come before attiram, ‘astra’ or ‘missile’. He also changed the
final word, suṭṭu, ‘consider’ or ‘honour’ to suṭṭuṟu, which intensifies
it without changing its meaning. So with these additions the extended
verse means:
By whomsoever all these that are desired, [everything from] the
lowest world [up to] śakti as the limit, are destroyed by means of
the powerful [certain or unfailing] missile that is the aforesaid
void, consider him, the hero, to be the knower of the void.
Since Devikālottaram is part of a Saiva upa-āgama, it uses many
terms and concepts from Saiva Siddhanta philosophy which admits
dualism. So pātala, ‘the lowest world’, and śakti, ‘as the limit’, refer
to tattvas or realities in that philosophy, of which there are thirty-six.
In this verse, however, even those tattvas are destroyed. According to
Michael James, Bhagavan translated Devikālottaram in order to make
prominent that in its ancient roots even that philosophy has strains of
advaita. Bhagavan states over and over again in this teaching that there
is only one tattva, namely ourself as we actually are, the adjunct-less
pure awareness ‘I am’.
In verse 264 of Guru Vācaka Kovai, Muruganar compares celestial
pleasures to the Heart.
The Heart, where the Supreme Silence of God’s Grace is shining,
is the only state of Kaivalyam, in the Presence of which the rare
pleasures of all the heavens are revealed to be nothing.

66 January - March
 KEYWORD
According to Sadhu Om, “Sri Bhagavan used to compare all the
pleasures available in the celestial worlds, including even Brahma
Loka, to the tiny specks of moonlight which fall on the ground through
the dense foliage of a large tree, whereas the Jnani’s experience of
Bliss is like the full moon-shine in an open space.”5
Bhagavan emphasised the meaning of the original verse by adding
tiṭpamām (powerful, firm, certain, unfailing) as a strong modifier of
‘the missile of the void’. It recalls Rama and all the great champions
of justice and virtue in the hoary past but also establishes jñāna as
supreme.
He also strengthened the meaning of the Sanskrit words ‘they are
remembered as knowers of the void’ (te smṛtāḥ śūnya-vedinaḥ) by
translating them as ‘consider him, the hero, to be the knower of the
void’ (śūraravar śūṉiya ñāṉiyarāc cuṭṭu). Note that ‘hero’ has been
added, and the ‘knower’ is translated by ‘jñāni’ (ñāṉiyar, an honourific
form of ñāṉi), which is more specific and stronger than ‘vedinaḥ’.
‘Suṭṭu’ (consider or honour) is in the imperative, directly implicating
us, and is later changed to ‘suṭṭuṟu’, an intensified form that is meant
to give us pause. In other words, think on this. What is the true battle
and where is it waged? Who is the greatest hero and what is the most
powerful weapon? How can we also become heroes? In verse 1063
of Guru Vācaka Kovai, Muruganar gives emphasis to honour.
Through not knowing the rare worth of the jewel that is the
knowledge of the ātman, people in their laziness abandon the
attempt to attain it and suffer [in their ignorance]. But those
who have known the means of attaining that jewel of the ātman,
[that is, self-investigation] which belongs to everyone by right,
are the great ones. They alone will experience supreme bliss.
Therefore they are the ones you should honour.6

5
Guru Vāchaka Kōvai (The Collection of Guru’s Sayings) by Sri Muruganar,
Translation and Commentary by Sri Sadhu Om, Sri Arunachala Ramana Nilayam,
Tiruvannamalai, 2005, p. 74.
6
The Light of Supreme Truth: Guru Vācaka Kōvai, Composed by Sri Muruganar,
Prose paraphrase by Sri Sadhu Om, Translated from the Tamil by Robert Butler,
Sri Ramana Center of Houston, 2023, p. 247.

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MOUNTAIN PATH
We all know that Bhagavan’s infallible weapon or brahmāstra
was ‘who am I?’.7 He wielded it for over fifty years at the foot of
Arunachala, and it was his message and his mission. In Arunachala
Ashtakam, verse 5, he shows how it works, this time as a grinding
stone, the mind turned within itself to remove all impurities. Here is
Sadhu Om’s paraphrase and commentary on that verse.
“When a gem is first dug out of a mine it will be full of flaws,
which can be removed only when it is polished on a special grinding
stone, and only when all the flaws are thus removed will the gem
shine with its natural lustre. Thereafter, the colour of no other object
will be able to affect the lustrous colour of that gem; instead the gem
will cast its own light around it and make other objects shine with its
lustre. Similarly, when the mind always attends to second and third
person objects, it will be full of flaws (adjuncts such as ‘this’ or ‘that’,
which are superimposed on the pure light of consciousness ‘I am’),
and these flaws can be removed only when the mind is polished on
the special grinding stone called mind (that is, only when the mind
turns away from second and third persons and attends to itself, the
first person, by enquiring ‘who am I, the mind?’); only when all the
flaws are thus removed, will the mind shine with its natural lustre
as the mere consciousness ‘I am’. Thereafter, such an adjunct-free
mind (a mind which has thus been transformed into Self) will not be
affected by anything in this world; instead, It will cast its own light
on the whole world and will thus see the world as nothing but itself.”8
Śūnyam appears for the last time in verse 42.
Those who meditate on the highest empty space of awareness
(śūnyam) become established in it through practice. They will
reach the supreme abode which is beyond birth and death.
What else can one hope for? What greater goal?
So what makes Bhagavan’s translations so special? He is no longer
in the body but when we look closely at his translations, comparing
7
Suri Nagamma, a respected and long-time devotee, was fascinated by Bhagavan’s
stock reply and devoted one of her letters, dated 22 January 1946, to it. It was
especially effective to silence petulant or insincere questioners. Bhagavan told
her that if Ganapati Muni and Kapali wanted to ask him anything they would first
fold their hands and say, “Swami, Swami, if you will promise not to brandish your
brahmasthram, I will ask a question.”
8
Sri Arunachala Stuti Panchakam, Meaning by Sadhu Om and Translation by
Michael James, Sri Ramana Kshetra, Tiruvannamalai, 2007, pp. 157-161.

68 January - March
 KEYWORD
them word by word with the original and attending to them without
slipping from a state devoid of distractions, we are in his presence.
It is Bhagavan, the pure awareness ‘I am’, sometimes as Lord Siva,
sometimes as Ādi Śaṅkarācārya, sometimes as some other sage or
avatār, speaking the truth in Tamil or in some other language.
Lakshmana Sarma, who laboured so hard and so productively
with translations, beautifully summarises the purpose of Bhagavan’s
teachings.
“The teachings of Bhagavan Sri Ramana are centred around the
Direct Path, the Quest of the Self. That is to say the Master did not
teach the metaphysical truths of the Vedanta as having an intrinsic
value of their own, but only as aids to the understanding and the
practice of the Quest. The latter alone has an intrinsic value, as the
means of solving all our life’s problems at one stroke. The Quest is
the Direct Path to the Natural State, wherein these problems do not
exist. The Master even taught that if only one can take to the Quest
and persist in it with the whole power of his mind, then for him the
metaphysical teachings would be unnecessary. This He expressly
sets forth in two verses of his Ulladu Naarpadu. In the first, He
states the metaphysical question whether the three, the world, God
and the soul, are separate entities, as is maintained by the dualists,
or appearances of the one, as the Non-Dualists say. In the next verse,
He mentions the controversy about the reality of the world. Neither
of these questions need to detain the earnest seeker of the Self, who
is able to pursue the Quest without caring to come to a conclusion
on these questions, because the Goal of the Quest, the Natural State,
which is also the Egoless State, is also the one in which doubts do
not arise. Metaphysical teachings are necessary only for those whose
minds are not yet ripe for the Quest. To become aware of the Real
Self is the means of solving all of the problems of life.”9
Take heart! Discover and, with increasing love, hold onto śūnyam,
the pure awareness ‘I am’ that lies within each and every one of us.
Practise, practise, practise!
Śāntiḥ, śāntiḥ, śāntiḥ
End of series on Devikālottaram. 
9
This excerpt is from an article that appeared in the 1st June 1954 issue of The Call
Divine.

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D. Thiyagarajan
 MOUNTAIN PATH

Photograph
Guy Gonyea

72 January - March
THE MOUNTAIN PATH ARCHIVE

Remain Where You

Are
Suri Nagamma

Every issue, we will select one article from the issue of Mountain
Path that began publication in 1964 i.e., 60 years ago. This is
an article by Suri Nagamma1 that appeared in January 1964.

A t a quarter to ten this morning, just as Bhagavan was getting up to

go for his usual short mid-morning walk, an Andhra young man
approached the couch and said: “Swami, I have come here because
I want to perform tapas (austerities) and don’t know what would be
a good place for it. I will go for the purpose wherever you tell me.”
Bhagavan did not answer. He was stooping down rubbing his legs
and knees, as he often does before beginning to walk, on account of
the rheumatism in them, and was smiling quietly to himself. We, of
course, were waiting eagerly for what he would say. A moment later
he took the staff that he uses to steady himself in walking and, looking
at the young man, said: “How can I tell you where to stay? It is best
to stay where you are.” And with a smile he went out.
The young man was bewildered. “What is the meaning of this?”
1
Suri Nagamma was an Andhra lady who was living in the lifetime of Bhagavan.
Her brother also was a great devotee but could pay only occasional visits here, as
he was the Manager of a Bank in Madras. Therefore Nagamma formed the habit
of writing him reports of the doings and sayings of Bhagavan. These letters have
been put together as a book and published by the Ashram. However, this letter
does not appear in the book. It was dated 10th September 1947.

2024 73
MOUNTAIN PATH
he exclaimed. “Being an elderly person I thought he would tell me
some holy place where I could stay, but instead of that he tells me
to stay where I am. I am now near this couch. Does that mean that
I should stay here? Was it to receive such a reply that I approached
him? Is this a matter for joking?”
One of the devotees took him out of the hall and explained: “Even
when Bhagavan says something in a light vein there is always some
deep meaning in it. Where the feeling ‘I’ arises is one’s Self. Tapas
means knowing where the Self is and abiding there. For that one has
to know who one is; and what then does it matter where one stays?
That is what he meant.” He thus pacified the young man and sent
him away, Similarly, some one asked yesterday: “Swami, how can
we find the Atma?”
“You are in the Atma, so how can there be any difficulty in finding
it?” Bhagavan replied.
“You say that I am in the Atma, but where exactly is that Atma,”
the questioner persisted.
“If you abide in the heart and search patiently you will find it.”
The questioner still seemed unsatisfied and made the rather curious
objection that there was no room in his heart for him to stay in it.
Bhagavan turned to one of the devotees sitting there and said,
smiling: “Look how he worries about where Atma is! What can I tell
him? What is Atma? It is all-pervading. When I tell him that it is called
‘Heart’ he says there is no room in it for him to stay. What can I do?
To say that there is no room in the Heart after filling it full of vasanas
(inherent tendencies and cravings) is like grumbling that there is no
room to sit down in a house as big as Ceylon. If all the junk is thrown
out won’t there be room? The body itself is junk. These people are
like someone who fill all the rooms of his house chock full of junk
which is not necessary for his body and then complains that there is
no room for his body in it. In the same way they fill the mind with
all sorts of vasanas and then say there is no room for the Self in it. If
all the vasanas are swept away and thrown out there will be plenty
of room and it will all be Atma. Then there will be no such thing as
a separate ‘I’ so what need then for room, or who would occupy the
room? Instead of seeking the Self they say ‘no room! no room!’, just
like shutting your eyes and saying there is no sun. What can be done?”

74 January - March
Advaita Primer
Part Seven

Equipoise
M. Giridhar

I n the first article of this series, we examined why we should study

Advaita Vedanta. In the subsequent articles, we examined the
concept of jagat (world) as mithyā arising due to ignorance (avidyā),
resulting in wrong superimposition (adhyāsa). We also explored
the relationship between the triad, namely jīva, nirguṇa (without
attributes) Brahman and jagat, and the relationship between each of the
above entities with saguṇa Brahman (iśvara). In the previous article,
we examined how Advaita and modern science view consciousness
and how the former proposes a solution to the difficult and that of
seemingly intractable issue called the hard problem of consciousness,
of connecting consciousness with matter. However, the purpose of
Advaita is not only to explain the nature of reality and of what really
exists (ontology), the relationship between the knower and what is
known (epistemology), and what we value (axiology), but inherently
takes the seeker towards Self-realisation.
In Advaita, Self-realisation is already attained as the Self is ever-
present. It is the knowledge (jñāna) that results in the destruction of
ignorance (avidyā). This knowledge of one’s true identity as Ātman-
Brahman1 and witness-consciousness2 allows us to recognise the
illusoriness of the phenomenal world and the notion of doership.
1
ayam ātmā brahma (  ) — ‘Ātman is Brahman’, Māṇḍūkya
Upaniṣad, 1.2.
2
Sākṣī — The Awareful Witness; see Swami Tadatmananda, https://www.youtube.
com/watch?v=T5o_AJRxVp0.

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MOUNTAIN PATH
The only purpose of Advaita is to make us realise that we are and
always have been Brahman. The nirguṇa Brahman is consciousness
(prajñānam brahma),3 which is pure awareness. Brahman is described
as sat (Reality), cit (knowledge), ananta (infinity)4 and ānanda (bliss)5.
The words ‘sin’ and ‘virtue’ are somewhat alien to the spirit of Vedanta
philosophy, because they necessarily foster a sense of possessiveness
with regard to thought and action. If we say, “I am good,” or “I am
bad,” we are only talking in the language of māyā. “I am Brahman”
is the only true statement any of us can or should make.
Bhagavan said, “That which is, is only Sat, Being or Reality.
That is called Brahman or Pure Self. The lustre of Sat-Reality
is Cit-Consciousness and its nature is Ānanda-Bliss. These are not
different from Sat-Reality. All the three together are known as Sat-
Cit-Ānanda.”5 Bhagavan further clarifies, “Satcidānanda is said to
indicate that the Supreme is not asat (unreal), not acit (insentient)
and not anānanda (unhappiness). Because we are in the phenomenal
world, we speak of the Self as Satcidānanda.”6 He continues, “There
is no use seeking for a temporary state of affairs. The fact is that
Satcidānanda is the state of effortless, ever alert peace. Effortlessness
while remaining aware, is the state of Bliss. And that is Realisation.”7
We should differentiate between happiness, pleasure and bliss
and the western view of meditative practices as a neurological
process that only occurs at the physical level of the brain. Pleasure
is derived from dopamines and happiness by serotonins. These are
entirely two different neurotransmitters occurring in different areas
of the brain with contrasting regulatory pathways. Dopamine is an
excitatory neurotransmitter. Chronic stimulation of these neurons lead
to neuronal cell death. As the receptors decrease, we need higher and
higher stimulation to obtain pleasure at a continually decreasing rate,
leading to tolerance and eventually resulting in addiction. Serotonin
is an inhibitory neurotransmitter essentially slowing the neurons
down and producing happiness. There is no overdosing of serotonin
but dopamine down-regulates serotonin. Thus the more pleasure we
3
Aitareya Upaniṣad, 3.1.3.
4
Taittirīya Upaniṣad, 2.1.3.
5
Nagamma, Suri, Letters from Sri Ramanasramam, Letter 117.
6
Venkataramiah, M. (ed.), Talks with Sri Ramana Maharshi, Talk §433.
7
Ibid., Talk §295.

76 January - March
 ADVAITA PRIMER
seek, the more unhappy we get. However, this is not the happiness
that is mentioned in Advaita or Vedanta literature, which actually
refers to ānanda, that is rightly translated as bliss and is independent
of chemicals in the brain or even the body, mind and world complex.
The truth is that pleasure and joy actually come from the mind, not
from external phenomena and bliss is inherent in all of us because
that is our true nature.
How does one obtain this ānanda? We cannot obtain it. As
Bhagavan Ramana says, “The wrong knowledge of ‘I am the body’
is the cause of all the mischief. This wrong knowledge must go. That
is realisation. Realisation is not acquisition of anything new nor is it a
new faculty. It is only removal of all camouflage [avidyā].” In the state
of ignorance (ajñāna), consciousness (Brahman) reflected in the mind
and identified with it constitutes the empirical self or transactional
self, the jīva. Self-realisation is the recognition by the jīva that ‘I am
the illuminating consciousness’, rather than the reflected qualified or
attributive conscious entity ‘I am this [or that]’.8
Subbaramayya reports Bhagavan saying, “‘What is Self-
Realisation?’ A mere phrase. People expect some miracle to happen,
something to drop from Heaven in a flash. It is nothing of the sort.
Only the notion that you are the body, that you are this or that, will
go, and you remain as you are.”9
Arjuna asks Krishna, “O Keshava, what is the description of
a person of steady wisdom who is established in equanimity?”10
Krishna gives a long reply in verses from 2.55 to 2.72 to describe the
characteristics of the Self-realised person (jñānī). However, the answer
is in the question itself, which is equanimity. It is here appropriate to
recall an incident with Kanchi Mahaperiyava.11
A family went to have the darśan of Mahaperiyava. Along with
them, they took one of their family friends who had lived in the
USA for some decades. The friend did not have any great faith
in our religion, system and especially the monks wearing saffron
clothes; he went along with him with utterly no interest to meet

8
Vidyaranya, Swami, Anubhutiprakāśa, Manoharlal Publishers Pvt. Ltd., 2009.
9
Subbaramayya, G.V., Sri Ramana Reminiscences, p.138.
10
sthitaprajñasya kā bhāṣā samādhisthasya keśava. BG 2.54.
11
https://truemasters.wordpress.com/27destroying-your-ego/.

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MOUNTAIN PATH
Mahaperiyava. He was under the impression that Mahaperiyava
was a fundamentalist and an uneducated monk. This NRI had
no great respect at all for Him. Not only that, he uttered such
inauspicious things about Him, ‘What does He know? Does
He know English?’.
There was a big throng of devotees at the Mutt and the
family was standing at a decent distance from Him. As usual,
Mahaperiyava looked at this family with His graceful eyes,
and called all of them including the friend to come near Him.
After all the usual courteous enquiry about the family, the
Master looked at the NRI friend and asked about his details,
including his name, whereabouts, his predecessors, where he
was working etc. Then He asked, ‘You were born in India, and
you know Tamil; your wife was also born in India and should
know the mother tongue. When you two converse will it be in
Tamil or English?’ The friend replied ‘We never use Tamil at
home, we use only English. The same goes for the kids also.’
Then Mahaperiyava asked, ‘Before speaking, you may have
to think and conceive the sentence. Is the thought process in
Tamil or English?’ The friend [proudly] replied, ‘That too in
English only’. Some minutes later, an old lady came to have
Mahaperiyava’s darśan.
Mahaperiyava looked at the NRI person and said, ‘This old
lady is now very poor, but once upon a time she was very rich.
But even after she lost all the materialistic wealth, her devotion
towards the Mutt, Acharya and me has never changed even a
bit. Could you please tell me what is the English word which
will describe this unflinching devotion, which can’t be changed
by external situations? I would like to know [After all, I am an
uneducated monk who does not know English].’12
The man was flummoxed. He thought and thought for a while
but did not know that word. Mahaperiyava smiled and told him,
‘Please take your time and let me know’. Even after some time,
he could not come up with the required word. Then Swamiji
said, ‘Can I suggest one word? Could you please confirm
12
He could converse in approximately 17 languages including English, French,
Swedish and a dozen Indian languages.

78 January - March
 ADVAITA PRIMER
whether the same can convey this meaning? EQUIPOISED’.
The man was spellbound and fell on Mahaperiyava’s feet to
pardon him for his ego.
Equanimity refers to a state of calmness and composure, especially
in difficult situations. It involves maintaining a sense of inner
peace. Equipoise refers to a state of balance or equilibrium. Both of
these terms imply a calm state of mind irrespective of the external
circumstances. Krishna defines Yoga as “Do your karma equipoised
(samaḥ) in success or failure; such equanimity (samatvam) of mind
is called Yoga.”13
The problem is we always try to seek happiness wrongly. The
way we live, the way we think — everything is dedicated to material
pleasures. We consider sense objects to be of utmost importance and
materialistically devote ourselves to whatever makes us happy, rich,
famous or popular. Even though all this comes from our mind, we are
so totally preoccupied by external objects that we never look within
or even enquire into the mind. We often feel miserable and our world
seems upside-down because we believe that external things will work
exactly as we plan and expect them to do so. We expect things that
are changeable by nature not to change, impermanent things to last
forever. Nothing material lasts; it is impossible. We make futile efforts
to change outer circumstances, and search for happiness in the world,
experiencing the inevitable duality of pleasure and pain. As pain is
more intense than pleasure, we encounter suffering repeatedly. If we
hear ten positive compliments and one negative criticism, the mind
clings on to the criticism. Negativity is the innate nature of the mind.
It leads you to a state where you get so disgusted with yourself and
your own mind. The main problem is our uncontrolled, dissatisfied
mind, whose nature is suffering. You feel like running away from your
own mind. Running away is not going to help, because wherever you
go, your mind will also go along with you. It is like trying to run away
from your shadow. That’s why Bhagavan says, “Whether you continue
in the household or renounce it and go to the forest, your mind haunts
you. The ego is the source of thought. It creates the body and the world
and it makes you think of being the gṛhastha. If you renounce, it will

13
siddhy-asiddhyoḥ samo bhūtvā samatvaṁ yoga uchyate. Bhagavad Gita, 2.48.

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MOUNTAIN PATH
only substitute the thought of sannyāsa for that of gṛhastha and the
environment of the forest for that of the household. But the mental
obstacles are always there for you. They even increase greatly in the
new surroundings. It is no help to change the environment. The one
obstacle is the mind and it must be overcome whether in the home
or in the forest. If you can do it in the forest, why not in the home?
Therefore, why change the environment? Your efforts can be made
even now, whatever the environment.”14
We get hurt easily but it takes forever to get healed. Healing is
always harder. If we could, we would forgive and forget but it is easier
said than done and healing is much harder than feeling pain. When
someone hurts you emotionally, they alter you. We are no longer the
same old person. When healing occurs, we become a newer you.
Just like new skin grows when a wound heals, a new person emerges
when we heal. Every event in life changes you a little but some can
completely break you. But we do not have the option to remain broken.
We rebuild ourselves constantly and strive to get out of suffering.
There will always be people around you who will have an opinion
about you. They may say things to you that you may not like, they
may take you or your offerings for granted or they may criticise you.
It is unlikely that they will change but are we going to let them keep
on hurting us? Because every time they do, we get hurt and a little bit
of us is lost in trying to rebuild ourselves. As we repeatedly get hurt,
life becomes a burden and we grieve. Sorrow destroys courage and
the mind filled with hurt destroys knowledge.15 Eventually, we say
enough is enough but it is usually after a bout of adverse circumstances
when life becomes unbearable.
When a sad person approached a wise Buddhist teacher, he said,
“The sky is cloudy. It will rain but the crop will grow and ripen.
But finally all the clouds will disperse.” This means that the current
cloudiness refers to the current gloom and suffering of the person.
The rain is the hardship that the person will undergo but the person
matures and Grace will ripen the seeds of spirituality. The dispersal
of the clouds is the attainment of equanimity resulting in bliss. Clouds
come and go, but the blue sky is always there; clouds do not alter the

14
Op. cit., Talk §54.
15
Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa (Canto 2, Chapter 62, Verse 15).

80 January - March
 ADVAITA PRIMER

fundamental nature of the sky.16 Similarly, Brahman is unaffected by

our thoughts or the happenings of the world.
Sometimes the bad things that happen in our lives put us directly
on the path to the best things that will ever happen to us because
difficult roads usually lead to beautiful destinations. At this stage, the
Guru, who is the embodiment of Grace, out of supreme compassion,
explains that all the emotional hurt, healing and suffering has resulted
from the apparent ego. The ego gives one a false sense of separation
that expects one to gain lasting satisfaction, peace and happiness
outside in the world. The Guru then points out that our innate nature
is beyond the mind and we are [and have always been] Brahman.
This knowledge gradually helps one to get rid of all the cravings and
aversions of the mind. Then one understands that this pursuit and
lasting contentment can never be found outside and, therefore, one
begins to turn within oneself.
It is here appropriate to recall an incident with Bhagavan. When
a cat ate the mother of some baby squirrels, Ramana took on the
task of caring for the young. As he used often daily events to teach
his devotees, he said to them, “These little ones do not know that
wisdom lies in remaining in their nest. They keep attempting to come
out. All trouble lies outside but they cannot remain within. Similarly
if the mind is not externalised, but remains sunk in the Heart then
there would only be happiness. But the mind keeps moving out.”
When Rangaswami asked, “What is the path for keeping it inward?”,
Bhagavan said, “It is exactly the same as what I am doing now. Each
time a young squirrel comes out, I keep putting it back into its nest.
When I go on doing it, it learns the happiness of staying in the nest.”17
Indrajāla is mentioned in the Vedas18 and is a subtle metaphor for
the structure of reality. Imagine a vast jāla (net); at each crossing
point there is a jewel; each jewel is perfectly clear and reflects all
the other jewels in the net. The jewel in this metaphor stands for an
individual being and is intimately connected with all other jewels in
the universe, and a change in one jewel means a change, however
slight, in every other jewel. The central premise to Vedic philosophy
16
Yeshe, Lama, Becoming Your Own Therapist and Make Your Mind an Ocean,
Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive; Smashwords Edition, 2010.
17
Ebert, Gabriele, Ramana Maharshi: His Life, p.32.
18
Atharva Veda, 8.8.5-8.

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is that the perceived separation between ourselves and the external
world is an illusion. In truth, we are interconnected with all beings and
the entire universe. As Rumi19 said, “You are not a drop in the ocean.
You are the entire ocean in a drop.” But the illusion of separation
is so strong that it feels real. Though we are interconnected, we
see ourselves as separate individuals. But the sage established in
the highest consciousness sees one undivided imperishable reality
coursing through all living entities.20 This reality is indivisible and
yet appears to be divided amongst living beings.21
The concept of an embodied consciousness (Ātman) with
respect to supreme consciousness (Brahman) can be described in
three different ways. In one analogy, consciousness is compared
to space, and consciousness in the embodiment is compared to the
space inside a pot.22 When there is a pot, the all-pervading space
appears to be confined to the pot though space is all-pervading. The
second method of explaining this situation is through the example
of a reflecting medium like a mirror. Consciousness is the source,
and consciousness available in the embodiment is the reflected
consciousness. The truth is the original. The original consciousness
is called bimba and the reflected consciousness is called pratibimba.
If we mistake the reflection for the original, it will appear to be
limited to the embodiment.23 The third method of explanation is that
consciousness available in the embodiment is the semblance or ābhāsa
of consciousness, i.e., cidābhāsa. The ābhāsa is what appears to be the
original even when it is different from it. It is like the appearance of
the sun appearing to be present in the surface of the water contained in
a pot.24 We can liken the sun to the Supreme Being, its several images
to different living beings, and the water to the mind or intellect. In
19
13th-century Persian poet and Sufi mystic.
20
sarva-bhūteṣu yenaikaṁ bhāvam avyayam īkṣate
avibhaktaṁ vibhakteṣu taj jñānaṁ viddhi sāttvikam. Bhagavad Gītā, 18.20.
21
avibhaktaṁ ca bhūteṣu vibhaktam iva ca sthitam. Bhagavad Gītā, 13.17.
22
This method of explaining is adopted by Vācaspati Misra in Bhāmati and is called
avaccheda-vāda.
23
This explanation is called pratibimba-vāda given by Padmapäda, a direct disciple
of Śaṅkarācārya.
24
This intellection called ābhäsa-vāda is given by Sureshvara, a direct disciple of
Śaṅkarācārya.

82 January - March
 ADVAITA PRIMER
this analogy, the existence of the sun is entirely independent of the
existence of any particular image or water. The various reflections
may appear clean or murky, in motion or still, depending on the nature
of their hosting water bodies. Nevertheless, these variations do not
affect the sun itself.
Similarly, the consciousness available in the embodiment (jīva,
body mind) does not affect the source (or original) consciousness
(Brahman). The apparent delimitation of space by the pot does not
affect the space; the image of the person appearing in the mirror
does not affect the person; and the reflection of the illumination does
not affect the source of illumination. In the limitation explanation,
we recognise the original by knowing that the limitation is only
apparent, like the limitless space appearing as limited inside the pot.
In the reflection explanation, we recognise the source, through the
knowledge that what is seen is only the reflection, and in the semblance
explanation that it is only the semblance of the original.
Sureshvara, the direct disciple of Śaṅkarācārya and the author of
one of the biggest books25 in Advaita literature writes in his famous
work26 about how lack of knowledge (ajñāna or avidyā) leads to
suffering in eight stages as follows. Because of ignorance (advaita
ajñāna), there is perception of duality (dvaita darśanam). Because
of this perception, there is śobhana-aśbhana-adhyāsaḥ i.e. division
into favourable and unfavourable parts. This leads to rāga-dveśa i.e.,
likes and dislikes of the favourable and unfavourable circumstances,
respectively. This leads to dharma and adharma karmāni (right
and wrong actions) that results in puṇya and pāpa (virtue and sin).
These lead to superior and inferior physical bodies, deha-prāptiḥ,
respectively. The embodiment itself leads to suffering and samsāra.
Due to this 8-fold chain, it can be concluded that samsara is actually
due to ajñāna. Duality or separation implies that you can lose
something or someone. Painful emotions and feelings are generated
and sustained by the sense of being a separate self. When the perceived
25
Bṛhadāraṇyakopaniṣad bhāṣyavārtikam, encompassing 12,000 verses.
https://archive.org/details/BrihadaranyakaBhashyaVartikam2/Brihadaranyaka%20
Bhashya%20Vartikam%201/
26
Balasubramanian, R., Naiṣkarmya Siddhi: An Elucidation of Advaita by Suresvara,
Chinmaya International Foundation, Kerala.

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MOUNTAIN PATH
duality is seen as false by the removal of ajñāna, the mind will be
completely absent from all emotions resulting from duality and will
remain equipoised and rest in the inherent bliss of Self. When the
mind becomes equipoised… it verily becomes one with Brahman.27
In Tattva Bodha,28 Śaṅkara defines  (uparamah) as mental
equipoise during the observance of one’s own dharma. As mentioned
earlier, the state of performing actions with equanimity of the
mind, abandoning attachment towards success and failure itself is a
yoga11. All actions become worship when the work is performed in
an equipoised manner with a spirit of surrender to Bhagavan. The
highest form of uparama is when one remains in the highest state of
satcitananda (  ) while discharging the dharma without
brooding over a dead past or fancying about the unborn future.
Ultimately, it is not possible to attain the perfect equipoise of the mind
continuously unless one is established in the Self.29
In the next verse, Śaṅkara explains another important characteristic
of the mind i.e.,  (titikṣā). This means forbearance, which is
basically patient endurance of the opposites encountered in our life.
Life is a continuous stream of experiences at the physical level (heat,
cold), emotional level (joy, sorrow) and intellectual level (praise,
censure) that may give us a feeling of being at the top of the world or
at a bottomless pit. In such cases, since we are not able to take things
in our stride, we blame outside agencies like the stars, society, and
others. Some external thing changes, and we get completely upset. We
all need control, be it psychologically, emotionally and financially as
we are too attached to the external world. Swami Paramarthananda30
compares an equanimous mind to a good set of shock absorbers on
the vehicle. An equanimous person says, “This too shall pass” and
counters all events with “Is that so?” An incident31 can be given to
illustrate the above.

27
Māṇḍūkya Kārikā Bhāṣya, 3.46, tika by Anandagiri.
28
Chaturvedi, Shraddhesh, Tattva Bodha by Shankaracharya: Knowledge of Reality,
2019, verse 8. Independently published.
29
yadā sthāsyati niścalā samādhāv… Bhagavad Gītā, 2.53.
30
Introduction to Tattavabodha, in https://www.vedanta.gr/wp-content/
uploads/2012/03/SwParam_IntroVedanta-Tattvabodha_ENA4.pdf
31
https://kannondo.org/is-that-so/.

84 January - March
 ADVAITA PRIMER
Hakuin32 was greatly respected and had many disciples. At one
time in his life, he lived in a village hermitage, close to a food
shop run by a couple and their beautiful young daughter. One
day the parents discovered that their daughter was pregnant.
Angry and distraught, they demanded to know the name of
the father. At first, the girl would not confess but after much
harassment, she named Hakuin. The furious parents confronted
Hakuin, berating him in front of all of his students. He simply
replied, “Is that so?”
When the baby was born, the family gave it to Hakuin. By this time,
he had lost his reputation and his disciples. But Hakuin was not
disturbed. He took delight in caring for the infant child. A year later,
the young mother of the child was troubled by great remorse. She
confessed the truth to her parents — the real father was not Hakuin
but rather a young man who worked at the local fish market. The
mortified parents went to Hakuin, apologising, asking forgiveness
for the wrong they did to him. They asked Hakuin to return the
baby. Although he loved the child as his own, Hakuin gave him
up without complaint. All he said was: “Is that so?”
The acceptance depends on the degree our life is impacted. For
example, we may not be unduly affected if our car is stuck in a traffic
(a daily occurrence in Indian cities) but become more concerned if the
computer fails to start. What if we have the unfortunate experience
of being wrongly accused and being laid off from work? What if we
get diagnosed with a terminal illness with a few days of excruciating
pain left before dying? What if all the above events happen on the
same day? Will we remain equipoised and say “Is that so?”.
An untrained mind suffers when it experiences unexpected, life-
changing events, particularly if it is aimed at us personally. But the
above incident indicates that the mind can be capable of equanimity
in all situations. It is a story of acceptance without judgment. It shows
that equanimity and wisdom are possible in the midst of the surprises
and difficulties of ordinary life, possible because it is our inherent
state: it already exists, we have no need to strive for it. Bhagavan says,
32
Zen Master Hakuin lived in the late seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries.
He is said to have created the now-famous question: “What is the sound of one
hand clapping?”

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“Happiness is inherent in man and is not due to external causes. One
must realise his Self in order to open the store of unalloyed happiness.”33
The quest to find peace of mind is doomed because everybody,
without exception, has a restless mind. Arjuna complains that the mind
is restless, turbulent, obstinate and says it is more difficult to control
than the wind.34 Freedom has nothing to do with your thoughts and
everything to do with whether you identify with them or not. When
we begin to meditate,35 we see there are two separate entities at play
— the thoughts that come and go and the one who is aware of them
— the witness. Clouds come and go, the sun remains unaffected. Just
as the sun cannot be seen in a densely clouded sky, so one’s own Self
cannot be seen in a mind-sky which is darkened by a dense cloud of
thoughts.36 Pleasant thoughts come and go, unpleasant thoughts come
and go37 but the silent witness, the one who is aware, never changes.
Peace is its nature. Advaita asks us to be that witness, Brahman.
Brahman supports the entire creation as though it were a play, but
is independent of it, as pointed out by Śaṅkarācārya in his Brahma
Sūtra Bhāṣya.38 Though the world appears real to the sadhaka, it has no
relationship with Brahman, just like a movie screen has no relationship
to the happenings in the movie. A fire in the movie does not burn the
screen, nor does a flood wet the screen. When the jīva recognises that
he is the sākṣī (witness) and not associate himself with the conditioned
(upādhis) reflected consciousness, he is self-realised.39 Brahman is said to
be sākṣī, the witness consciousness, but this is just to differentiate it from
the witnessed world (that includes the body and mind). In reality, Brahman
is infinite and is even beyond the duality of the witness and witnessed.
33
Op.cit., Talk §4.
34
cañcalaṁ hi manaḥ kṛṣṇa pramāthi balavad dṛḍham tasyāhaṁ nigrahaṁ manye
vāyor iva su-duṣkaram. Bhagavad Gita, 6.34.
35
Sarvapriyananda, Swami, Dṛg Dṛsya Viveka, https://www.youtube.com/
playlist?list=PLAF_c2xr3i8C6LjcbiQSZkp0EUfd2XX8t.
36
Muruganar, Sri, Guru Vācaka Kōvai, verses 916-917.
37
“Leave your front door and your back door open. Let thoughts come and go. Just
don’t serve them tea.” Quoted in Crooked Cucumber, a biography of Shunryu
Suzuki.
38
  ,     … Brahma Sūtra
Bhāṣya, 2.1.33.
39
Muṇḍaka Upaniṣad, 3.1:1-3.

86 January - March
 ADVAITA PRIMER
As spiritual unfoldment proceeds, one naturally cherishes solitude
and silence. Solitude does not mean being isolated and neither does
silence mean absence of sound. What is meant is a natural state of
inner detachment as one realises the unreality of the world and the
futility to gain any lasting satisfaction or happiness outwardly in the
world. Bhagavan says, “Solitude is in the mind of man. One might be
in the thick of the world and maintain serenity of mind; such a one is
in solitude. Another may stay in a forest, but still be unable to control
his mind. He cannot be said to be in solitude. Solitude is a function
of the mind. A man attached to desire cannot get solitude wherever
he may be; a detached man is always in solitude.”40
Though Bhagavan’s teachings construe the direct path, it is not a
shortcut to Self-realisation.41 Realisation is the opposite of ignorance.
To consider the temporal and transient world to be real and the supreme
Self as unreal is ignorance. This is the cause of sorrow and suffering.
Awakening is when our mind chatter quietens and the supreme
consciousness shines through the equipoised mind. However, this
does not happen at once. Can we see our face with clarity in a dirty
mirror? No. First we have to wipe it clean. The thought ‘I am’ and
self-enquiry of tracing the ‘I’ thought to its source is the polishing
cloth. The clearer the mirror, the clearer the perception of the face.
The same happens with the mind and consciousness. The mind is like
a mirror that reflects consciousness. The purer the mind, the more
clearly it will reflect the peace and bliss of consciousness. But the dust
does not disappear all at once. It happens gradually. Little by little.
The same is true for spiritual growth. We meditate, we let go, we do
all kinds of things as part of our sādhanā, over a period of several births.
As we grow gradually, finally the dust is completely removed and the
reflection is perfect. Advaita Vedanta emphasises three stages, spiritual
practice (sādhana catuṣṭaya), realisation of the true nature as limitless
consciousness (ātma sākṣātkāra) followed by nididhyāsana which is
to contemplate and reflect on our real nature for the sake of removing
the habitual identification with our body and mind (deha vāsanā).

40
Op cit., Talk §20 and Talk §54.
41
Tadatmananda, Swami, Shortcut to Enlightenment, https://www.youtube.com/
watch?v=NRg6AFx-6WQ.

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Yajnavalkya says, “The Self should be realised through hearing
(śravaṇa), reflection (manana) and meditation (nididhyāsana).”42 Bhagavan
says, “Śravaṇa is only parokṣa jñāna. By manana (reflection) it becomes
aparokṣa spasmodically. The obstruction to its continuity is the vasanas:
they rise up with reinforced vigour after manana. They must be held in
check. Such vigilance consists in remembering — ‘I am not the body’ and
adhering to the aparoksha anubhava (direct experience) which has been
had in course of manana (reflection). Such practice is called nididhyāsana
and eradicates the vāsanās. Then dawns the sahaja state. That is jñāna.”43
As said in Yoga Vāsiṣṭha, “Desires arising from latent tendencies (vāsanās)
connected with external objects constitute bondage and ignorance. One who
has got rid of his latent tendencies along with their root cause (of ego) and
attained equanimity, O Raghava, know him to be a person liberated. The
wise say that the best thing is to give up all affinities for objects which cause
the mind to fluctuate, remain equipoised in opposite situations, namely,
pleasure or pain, happiness or sorrow, gain and loss, honour and dishonour,
and that such abdication leads to mokṣa.”44
In the state of realisation that shines as pure consciousness, where
there is neither birth nor death, separation nor union, thinking nor
forgetting, joy nor sorrow, all other associations become meaningless
and disappear.45 We become equipoised as we realise all happens
only in the body-mind, not to the Self! Self is always blissful and
eternal! When the recognition of what we are is seen, nothing
happens. We simply find our Self as we already are. We are already the
consciousness that we strive to attain. All we need is an equanimous
mind and the knowledge of who we really are.
As we stand before the Samādhi of Bhagavan, uncontrollable
tears start to roll down, an inexplicable bliss is felt and something
paradoxical happens that cannot be described in words. Words fail
but we know the quest is over and we definitely know we have
reached home — the home of Arunachala Ramana where we feel
safe, protected and enjoy an equanimous mind with complete freedom
from the thoughts of the external world. 
42
Bṛhadāraṇyaka Upaniṣad, II.iv.5.
43
Op cit., Talk §57.
44
Laghu Yoga Vāsiṣṭha, vairagya prakaraṇa.
45
Muruganar, Sri Guru Ramana Prasadam, verse 522, translated by Robert Butler.

88 January - March
The Paramount
Importance of
Self Attention
Part Forty Eight
Sadhu Om
As Recorded by Michael James

24th February 1979 (continued)

Sadhu Om: There are two principal types of cause, namely the
material or substantial cause, which is called upādāna-kāraṇa in
Sanskrit and mudal-kāraṇam (primary cause) in Tamil, and the active
or efficient cause, which is called nimitta-kāraṇa in both Sanskrit and
Tamil. In some cases there is also a third type of cause, namely the
instrumental cause, which in Tamil is called tuṇai-k-kāraṇam, the
accompanying, supporting or auxiliary cause. To illustrate the meaning
of these terms, the material cause (upādāna-kāraṇa) of a table is wood,
its efficient cause (nimitta-kāraṇa) is a carpenter, whose tools are the
supporting or instrumental cause (tuṇai-k-kāraṇam).
Many interpretations of vēdānta say that brahman is the efficient
cause (nimitta-kāraṇa) of the world, but Bhagavan has made it clear
that though brahman is the substantial cause (upādāna-kāraṇa) of the

Michael James assisted Sri Sadhu Om in translating Bhagavan’s Tamil

writings and Guru Vācaka Kōvai. Many of his writings and translations
have been published, and some of them are also available on his website,
happinessofbeing.com.

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world, because it is the only thing that actually exists and therefore
the only real substance, it is not the efficient cause (nimitta-kāraṇa)
of the world, as he says in verse 85 of Guru Vācaka Kōvai:
Even though oneself alone is what is made as the world with
diverse kinds of names and forms, oneself is not one who as a
nimitta [an efficient cause] does [any actions such as] creating,
sustaining and destroying that [the world].
In this verse tāṉ [oneself] means ātma-svarūpa [the real nature
of ourself], which is brahman, and ulahā samaivadu [what is made
(or formed) as the world] implies ‘what is seen (or perceived) as the
world’, because though ātma-svarūpa alone is what we see as the
world, it is never affected in any way by being seen as such, just as a
rope is not affected in any way by being seen as a snake. What sees
the world is only ego, so it seems to exist only in the view of ego, and
hence ego alone is the efficient cause (nimitta-kāraṇa) of its seeming
existence, as Bhagavan implies in verse 26 of Uḷḷadu Nāṟpadu:
If ego comes into existence, everything comes into existence;
if ego does not exist, everything does not exist. Ego itself is
everything. Therefore, know that investigating what this is alone
is giving up everything.
This entire world is just a dream, and the dreamer of this dream is
ego, so what ego sees as all this multiplicity is just itself, as Bhagavan
implies by saying ‘Ego itself is everything’. Therefore ego is not only
the efficient cause (nimitta-kāraṇa) but also the substantial cause
(upādāna-kāraṇa) of everything else. However, if ego investigates
itself keenly enough, it will see that it is actually nothing other than
ātma-svarūpa, so though ego is the immediate substantial cause of
everything, the substantial cause of ego is ātma-svarūpa, so ātma-
svarūpa alone is the ultimate substantial cause of everything.
What then is the efficient cause (nimitta-kāraṇa) of ego? As
Bhagavan explained, there is no efficient cause of ego, because if we
investigate ego keenly enough, we will find that there is no such thing
at all, as he implies in verse 17 of Upadēśa Undiyār:
When one investigates the form of the mind without forgetting,
there is not anything called ‘mind’. This is the direct path for
everyone whomsoever.

90 January - March
 THE PARAMOUNT IMPORTANCE OF SELF ATTENTION
Ego is therefore the first efficient cause, and the efficient cause of
all other efficient causes, because all efficient causes and their effects
seem to exist only the view of ego. Without ego, there is neither cause
nor effect, and since there is neither ego nor anything else in the clear
view of ātma-svarūpa, for ātma-svarūpa there is neither any cause
nor any effect, because it alone is what exists. Cause and effect are
therefore just an illusory appearance.
However, so long as we rise as ego, cause and effect seem to us
to be real, so in order to put an end to their seeming existence, we
need to investigate ourself, the one to whom alone they appear. If we
investigate ourself keenly enough, we will see that we are always
nothing other than ātma-svarūpa and have therefore never risen as
ego, so there has never been any such thing as cause or effect. This
is the ultimate truth (pāramārthika satya), as will be clear to us only
when ego is eradicated by the sharp sword of self-investigation
(ātma-vicāra).
27th February 1979
Sadhu Om: If we feel disheartened by our repeated failure to
cling firmly to self-attentiveness, we should remember that the doer
and the one who experiences failure is ourself as ego, and that as
ego we cannot be self-attentive merely by our own effort but only by
the grace of guru. However, this does not mean that we should ever
give up trying to be self-attentive, because Bhagavan’s grace works
through us, giving us the love to be self-attentive, so whatever effort
we make in this path is the working of his grace. His grace is always
working to pull us within, so by trying to turn within we are yielding
ourself to his grace.
Repeatedly making effort to be self-attentive is therefore essential,
because it is a key part of the process of his grace gently but firmly
pulling us inwards. No matter how many times we seem to fail in our
efforts, we should keep on trying, because every attempt we make
to be self-attentive is a step forward on this path. As Bhagavan often
said, it is only by perseverance that we can progress on this path, so
whether we seem to succeed or fail, we should keep on trying.
To the extent that we truly love to know and to be what we actually
are, we will persevere in trying to be self-attentive at every moment, so

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our perseverance is the measure of our love, which is why Bhagavan
said that perseverance is the only reliable sign of progress. When he
said that bhakti is the mother of jñāna, what he meant by ‘bhakti’ is
wholehearted and all-consuming love to know and to be what we
actually are, and this love is what impels us to cling firmly to self-
attentiveness.
This love is svātma-bhakti [love for our own self, meaning love
for ourself as we actually are], which is what is also called sat-
vāsanā [the inclination to attend to our being and thereby to be as
we actually are]. The reason we often fail in our attempts to hold
fast to self-attentiveness is that we allow our mind to be drawn
outwards under the sway of our viṣaya-vāsanās [inclinations to attend
to and seek happiness in things other than ourself]. The stronger
our viṣaya-vāsanās, the more we will be swayed by them, but by
patient and persistent attempts to turn back within and cling fast to
self-attentiveness we will gradually strengthen our sat-vāsanā and
correspondingly weaken our viṣaya-vāsanās, as Bhagavan implies
in the sixth paragraph of Nāṉ Ār?:
If other thoughts rise, without trying to complete them it is
necessary to investigate to whom they have occurred. However
many thoughts rise, [so] what? Vigilantly, as soon as each
thought appears, if one investigates to whom it has occurred, it
will be clear: to me. If one investigates who am I [by vigilantly
attending to oneself, the ‘me’ to whom everything else appears],
the mind will return to its birthplace [namely one’s own being,
the source from which it arose]; [and since one thereby refrains
from attending to it] the thought that had risen will also cease.
When one practises and practises in this manner, for the mind
the power to stand firmly established in its birthplace increases.
The ‘power to stand firmly established in its birthplace’ is the
strength of svātma-bhakti, which increases to the extent to which
we persevere in trying to turn our attention back and keep it fixed
firmly on our own being, ‘I am’. There are therefore two powers that
are pulling our mind in two opposite directions, namely the power
of sat-vāsanā and the power of viṣaya-vāsanās. The power of sat-
vāsanā is pulling our mind back within to face ourself alone, whereas
the power of viṣaya-vāsanās is pulling it outwards to face the world

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 THE PARAMOUNT IMPORTANCE OF SELF ATTENTION

of viṣayas [objects or phenomena]. However, since vāsanās are just

inclinations, we are always free to choose which vāsanā or vāsanās
we allow ourself to be swayed by at any given moment, so even if
our viṣaya-vāsanās are stronger than our sat-vāsanā, we can always
use our icchā-kriyā-svatantra [freedom of will and action] to yield
ourself to the inward pull of sat-vāsanā rather than the outward pull
of any viṣaya-vāsanās.
The practice of ātma-vicāra [self-investigation] is therefore a
battle being fought within our own will between our sat-vāsanā and
our viṣaya-vāsanās, and our willingness to be swayed by one or the
other of them, as Bhagavan says in verse 396 of Guru Vācaka Kōvai:
The work [doing, process or operation] of making oneself
[namely ego], who is parāmukha [facing away, towards things
other than oneself] because of the sway [dominion, power or
force] of practice [training, habit or familiarity], ahamukha
[facing inside, towards I] by ātma-vicāra [self-investigation],
which is the effort of untiringly investigating who am I, alone
is the dēvāsura-yuddha [the war between gods and demons]
that one fights.
Since sat-vāsanā is a seed that has been planted, cultivated and
nurtured in our heart by Bhagavan’s grace, this battle between our
liking to be facing inwards (ahamukha) and our liking to be facing
elsewhere (parāmukha) is actually a battle being fought by his grace,
which is why he describes it as ‘aruḷ-pōrāṭṭam’ (the warfare of grace)
in verse 74 of Śrī Aruṇācala Akṣaramaṇamālai:
Arunachala, in the common [natural and all-pervading] space
devoid of going and coming [namely the heart, the infinite and
eternally immutable space of pure awareness, which never
goes (ceases to exist) or comes (begins to exist), and in which,
having known it as one’s own real nature, one will know that
one could never have gone out anywhere or come back] show
[me] the warfare of grace [in which you do not cease fighting
to save me until you achieve victory, destroying in me the vast
army of demons, namely ego and all its viṣaya-vāsanās].
Though this warfare is always being fought by grace in our heart,
it will end in victory only when we cooperate with grace by yielding
ourself entirely to it, and since we can yield ourself to it only to the

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extent to which we untiringly make effort to investigate who am I by
looking deep within ourself, our persevering in making this effort is
essential. However, though patient and persistent effort is necessary
on our part, we need to recognise clearly that it is only by his grace
that we are making such effort, because to the extent that we recognise
this, our love to be keenly and steadily self-attentive will increase.
If we do not recognise this, we will easily be disheartened seeing
the inadequacy of our own efforts, whereas if we do recognise this,
we will gain the courage to persevere no matter how many times we
seem to fail in our efforts. His grace is always playing its part in ways
and to an extent that our mind can never adequately comprehend,
but we will be willing to yield ourself to it only to the extent that we
appreciate that it is doing so.
Through countless lives his grace has been working in our heart,
preparing us to follow this ultimate path of self-investigation and
self-surrender, and it will not cease doing its work until we are finally
willing to surrender ourself entirely by sinking back within and
dissolving forever in the heart. All our effort to turn back within and
surrender ourself to him is being made by us only under the sway of
his grace, so our effort is part of the process of his grace, preparing
us unfailingly for the final moment when it will swallow us entirely
in its infinite light of pure awareness.
This is why Bhagavan often used to say that grace is the beginning,
the middle and the end. It is grace alone that has brought us to this
path, it is grace alone that is leading us unfailingly along it, and it is
grace alone that will finally swallow us entirely. 
(To be continued)

94 January - March
Tamil Siddhas

Part Eleven

Agapei: The Siddha Who Called the

Mind a Devil

P. Raja

S aints, mystics, siddhas and eminent thinkers the world over

invariably compare the mind to a monkey. The mind behaves in
a silly and playful way, always interfering with what we are doing.
In a way, it annoys us. Some call it a mad monkey. Some even call
it a drunken, mad monkey. We know what a monkey is capable of,
jumping from branch to branch and not staying in the same place,
except while sleeping. If it is a mad monkey, then we should be very
careful, lest something adverse would happen. If it is a drunken, mad
monkey, we should be extra careful and safeguard ourselves from its
onslaught.
Nevertheless, one Siddha differed from the idea of comparing the
mind to monkey. He replaced ‘monkey’ with ‘Devil’. If we ask, “Who
the devil, why the devil, what the devil, where the devil, etc.,” we are
emphasising how angry, surprised, annoyed, we are. The Devil is the
most powerful and important evil spirit.
No wonder that Siddha Agapei compared the mind to the Devil
(pei). He had valid reasons for that.

Dr. P. Raja. Cell: 9443617124. Email: rajbusybee@gmail.com

web: www.professorraja.com

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 TAMIL SIDDHAS
Nayanar. That was his name. Like the poets Thiruvalluvar and
Kabir, he was a weaver by profession. His business was to sell saris
and dhotis that he wove in his handloom. He loved to carry his
finished products on his head, call his customers out from their houses,
and sell the goods at a very reasonable price, avoiding agents and
intermediaries. That gave him the chance to meet people belonging to
different lifestyles. He soon found out that men and women were an
unhappy lot, but pretending to be happy. He understood that people
wear different masks, depending on the situation. It took a little or no
time for him to realise that everyone suffered with his/her problem,
always struggling to find a solution, be it ephemeral or permanent.
Not much is known of Siddha Agapei’s life and whatever we
know of him comes from the verses of Siddha Bhogar.1 The cloth
vendor who saw life in all its varied forms, mostly the tragic form of
it, very much wished to probe into the matter and find a solution to
all problems, and pass it on to the common folk. For a long time, he
struggled to locate the stuff that triggered a problem only to find that,
it was the devilish mind that was responsible for all the havocs in life.
The devilish mind asks for more and more. Because of this, the world
is crowded with cheats. They cheat others, and in turn, get cheated.
The life that Nayanar saw was fake and robot-like. He realised that
the only way to save people from the problems and distress was to
find a way to exorcise the devil in the mind once and for all, so that
peace would prevail. How to do away with the devil that possesses
the human mind became the one trillion-dollar question. He meditated
upon the problem and found a solution. The only way is to control the
mind. But how to control it, when it has its own unruly ways.
Hence, he began lecturing people on worldly-wise thoughts. He
preached uprightness, fidelity, virtue, trustworthiness, justness, piety,
and the like to a packed audience. In the beginning, the listeners paid
close attention to what Nayanar said, for he was an excellent orator.
But as days passed, they began to boo and jeer at him. They spoke
ill of him and his words of wisdom. They seemed to say, “We have
had enough of you preaching at us all the time – just leave us alone.”

1
Ramachandran, S.P., Siddhargal Varalaru. Thamarai Noolagam, Chennai, 2002.
p.147.

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MOUNTAIN PATH
Defeated and disillusioned, Nayanar sought the forests and
mountains. His aim was to find a sadhu or saint who could throw
more light on the soul and Self. Only disappointment awaited him.
He didn’t lose hope. He found a tree, and like the Buddha, sat under it
and meditated upon Muni Vyasa, the giver of the Vedas and the great
epic Mahabharata. The wait was long. But it was fruitful. One fine
day, Vyasa made Nayanar feel his presence. He advised him, “You
are a realised soul now. Your experience with the lifestyles of people
has given you wisdom. You don’t have to waste it on people who
refuse to listen. But put it in writing and let the future generations
speak of your wisdom.
Nayanar thought that that was a good suggestion. Instead of
sermonising to an inattentive audience, he chose to address his own
agapei, meaning the devilish mind. The written word is more powerful
than the spoken word.
The moment you know yourself, agapei,
You will never connive with the others.
And to know yourself, agapei!
Listen only to my words of wisdom.2
Since his verses were all addressed to his agapei, Nayanar came
to be known as Agapei siddha. In due course, his name underwent a
dramatic change and Agapei came to be known as Agappai, meaning
ladle.
Agapei is credited with 90 songs, all in quatrain form, with the
refrain ‘agapei’. Written in easy-to-read and understandable words,
every verse is a piece of advice. He took it as a mission to tell his agapei
what best could be done, all with the noble purpose of controlling
the mind.
Don’t have to take deadly poison or the like,
To become one with the Divine, agapei!
Don’t have to waver, agapei!
Your silence alone will take you to Him.3

2
Agapei Siddhar Paadalgal, verse 24.
3
Agapei Siddhar Paadalgal, verse 1.

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 TAMIL SIDDHAS
Thus, Agapei addresses his mind and gives good guidance to it. He
believes that the mind dances to the tune of greed, one of the seven
deadly sins. Affection and love are also responsible. High-mindedness,
a negative mental complex that crops up out of inferiority, living in
an aura of glamour and prestige, false hopes and beliefs fatten the
Devil. To get rid of the Devil, he suggests:
Life is meant to know ourselves, agapei!
Let us live in a non-committal way.
All other ways, agapei!
Are the ways of the Devil.4
While we study the verses of Agapei, and not just read them, we
are given to understand that we should never become slaves to worldly
things and never get drowned in the sea of ignorance.
Apart from the ‘90 songs’ addressed to his devilish mind, he had
also authored ‘Poorana Gnanam 15’, meaning ‘15 songs of Perfect
Wisdom’.
To put Agapei Siddha’s message concisely: “Joy and sorrow are
of ephemeral value. Our present favourites would sooner or later
become a thing for the bin. What we once threw into the bin, could
become our favourite in future. These changes are bound to repeat
themselves. The only thing that never changes is change itself. Our
mind is responsible for everything that happens to us, for our mind
is the Devil’s workshop. It is a conglomeration of all sorts of evil
thoughts. When some of them fizzle out, the Devilish mind does not
fail in creating something new. Our duty is to bring such a mind under
the control of the Soul, so that the mind can’t act on its own accord,
then peace is bound to hold sway.”
Siddha Bhogar, in his song number 309 of Janana Sagaram (Ocean
of Births) confirmed that Siddha Agapei was buried in Thiruvaiyaru,
Thanjavur District.
(All references to verse numbers are to A. Arivoli’s edition of Siddhar
Paadalgal. Vol.2. Varthamanan Pathippagam, Chennai, 2006. All the
translations from the songs of Agapei quoted in this essay are free
renderings done by the author.) 
4
Agapei Siddhar Paadalgal, verse 78.

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MAHA BHAKTA VIJAYAM

The Blessed Life of

Sant Jayadeva
Chapter Nine
Padmavathy’s Life Restored
Nabaji Siddha

U naware of the tragic turn of events, in the forest, the king was
praising the Sant and expressing his wonder and gratitude at the
vision he had of Lord Shiva, “Such great fortune was bestowed on
me! Is it because I rendered service to an exalted person like you, or
because of merits earned in my previous births? What a blessing for the
kingdom to cherish and serve you, the personification of forgiveness,
forbearance and peace, and mother Padmavathy, the epitome of one-
pointed devotion and service to her husband, the maha-pativrata! I
never even dreamt of such wonderful events in my life! My good
fortune and that of my people in the kingdom in serving you both has
no parallel!” The king’s heart was flooded with joy and gratitude. He
was euphoric at the Lord’s assurance about the restoration of limbs
of Jayadeva Swami. His eyes were eager to feast on the full form of
his beloved Guru.
When they entered the city, they found people gathered in groups
here and there, whispering in low tones. The king noticed an air of
gloom and desolation. The streets wore the appearance of being
deserted. There was no sound of Vedic chants. People were looking

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MOUNTAIN PATH
sad and anxious. There were lamentations echoing in some directions.
When some folks happened to look at the king’s chariot, they turned
their faces away hastily and entered their houses, shutting the doors
behind them.
The king looking at the Sant with a worried look said, “What could
be the reason for these ominous signs? What calamity might have
descended on the city? Is it on account of any unrighteousness in my
rule? Have any office-bearers inflicted sufferings on the citizens? My
heart is agitated and I have a sense of foreboding.”
Jayadeva Swami replied, “O king! I too have a feeling of impending
disaster. Have any Sants come to harm? Be quick and find out from
the people here.”
The king addressed the people gathered thus, “O pure-minded
people! Please be kind and apprise me of the calamity that has taken
place. What is behind this depressing atmosphere here?”
But none of them came forward to enlighten the king. They bowed
their heads to him silently and left the place.
The king was thoroughly alarmed now. He hastened to the palace
court and summoned the ministers. The courtiers said, “Some tragedy
has befallen the kingdom. We don’t have the full information. The
queen alone can apprise you of the event.”
The king hurried to the inner chamber. He heard loud cries
and lamentations. With great effort, he managed to draw out the
information from the maids. He couldn’t believe what he heard. He
screamed in horror and anguish. He was at a loss as how to set right
the heinous crime.
Jayadeva Swami also entered the chamber to find out the cause
of the commotion. Seeing the state of affairs, he asked, “Why all this
confusion and noise?”
As soon as he heard the whole story from the lips of the
maids, he let out a loud cry, “Alas! My Padmavathy is no more.
She dropped dead on hearing about my death! Did you really see
light leave her body? What great love she cherished for me! That
very love became the cause of her death. Has such a thing ever
happened in human history? What terrible anguish she must have
felt in those few moments on hearing about my death? In what
agony life must have left her body? O dear one! For my sake, you

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 THE BLESSED LIFE OF SANT JAYADEVA
gave up your life. How incredible is your devotion to me?” He
wailed in great sorrow.
Waves of anger rose in the king. Sparks of fury shot forth from
his eyes. With his body shuddering in rage, he drew his sword from
its sheath and advanced towards the queen. The frightened queen
prostrating to the Sant sought refuge in him, “O lord! Please revive
your noble consort and also redeem me from this terrible sin. I have
lost all honour. Please be compassionate and give life to the holy
lady, Padmavathy.”
The king dragging the queen by her hair said, “There is no
redemption either for you or for me. This minute I am going to kill
you and all the maids who assisted you in this diabolic act and then
put an end to my life as well.”
The queen pleaded with the Swami, “O Mahatma! I deserve to be
killed. But, the king and the maids have no part in this crime. Please
spare them who are innocent. Take pity on them and bring back our
lady.”
Approaching the king, Jayadeva Swami said, “O king! please
restrain your anger. Don’t you know that anger blinds the intellect?
O queen, please do not weep. No harm will befall any of you. You
are not to be blamed for whatever has happened to Padmavathy.
Everyone dies at the appointed hour. None can stop death, not even
the gods in heaven. The lord of death always needs an excuse to pluck
out one’s life. In this case, you happened to furnish it. Now O king!
Giving up your anger, please make the necessary arrangements for
cremating the body.”
The Sant’s words fell on deaf ears. Mad with uncontrollable fury,
glaring at the queen kneeling before the Sant, the king said, “After
cutting these women to pieces, I am going to end my own life. O
Mahatma! Then you can cremate all of us together.” He rushed
towards the queen.
The queen shrieked loudly, “I take refuge in Jayadeva Swami!”
“Don’t kill her! Don’t kill her!” Uttering these words, Jayadeva
Swami tried to rush to her aid. Lo! his hands and legs reappeared on
his body. But the Sant was oblivious of the miracle.
He addressed the king, “Don’t act in haste. O Lord! Why one tragedy
after another..?” In great distress, he started praying to the Lord.

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MOUNTAIN PATH
Eulogising the Lord’s ten incarnations, he said, “Lord, the treasure-
house of compassion! Won’t You come to our rescue soon? The king
is bent upon murdering the queen and the maids. He is ready to deal
death to himself also. Didn’t you come in a trice to Prahlada’s aid?
Didn’t you rush to the demi-gods’ rescue on several occasions?
Dasavatara Stuti
O primordial Being! God of gods! You are formless,
Yet You become the beloved of Your devotees,
In the form of Undivided bliss;
O all-pervading effulgence!
O compassion-incarnate Jagannath!
Hasten to my rescue!
You assumed the form of a fish;
Diving into the ocean,
You rescued the scriptures stolen by the demon,
Love-laden lotus-eyed One! O black-hued Lord!
O compassion-incarnate Jagannath!
Hasten to my rescue!
For the churning of the milky ocean,
You deigned to become a tortoise;
With Your back as a prop, O merciful One!
You held the huge Mandara mountain,
O compassion-incarnate Jagannath!
Hasten to my rescue!
You assumed the form of a boar,
Redeemed the earth hidden by the demon-king,
In the depths of the ocean;
O transcendental Light!
O Compassion-incarnate Jagannath!
Hasten to my rescue!
You appeared as man-lion in a pillar,
And killing the demon,
You protected the child-devotee Prahlada;
I stand helpless before You,
O compassion-incarnate Jagannath!
Hasten to my rescue!

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 THE BLESSED LIFE OF SANT JAYADEVA
Appearing as a dwarf, You measured,
Earth and heaven with majestic paces,
Humbling the pride of Maha-Bali!
O Lord adorned by tulsi garland, the Abode of Lakshmi,
O Compassion-incarnate Jagannath!
Hasten to my rescue!
O Supreme Lord! appearing as mighty Parasurama,
Subduing wicked Kshatriyas,
You protected Brahmins!
Ruler of the earth, ungrasped by the scriptures!
O compassion-incarnate Jagannath!
Hasten to my rescue!
O Eternal One! You incarnated as Rama on earth,
To exemplify the righteous way of living,
And to destroy the evil Ravana;
Lord of Jayadeva! Hearken to my plea!
O compassion-incarnate Jagannath!
Hasten to my rescue!
Slaying the demon Pralamba,
O mighty Balarama!
A terror to evil-doers,
Glorified in heaven and earth;
O Compassion-incarnate Jagannath!
Hasten to my rescue!
You descended on earth as Krishna,
By destroying evil,
And protecting good,
You established the Dharma!
O Compassion-incarnate Jagannath!
Hasten to my rescue!
You have vowed to appear, O mighty One!
As Kalki carrying a sword,
And riding on a white horse,
To annihilate the wicked;
O Compassion-incarnate Jagannath!
Hasten to my rescue!

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MOUNTAIN PATH
“O Lord! On my account, this kingdom is going to be destroyed.
Don’t you have any pity on me? What a vile sinner am I? I have
been wailing for long, yet I have not been able to invoke even a faint
indication of Your compassion. What disgrace I have brought upon
the kingdom?” Jayadeva Swami was drowned in tears of grief.
Beholding the miracle of restoration of the Sant’s limbs, the maids
gathered courage that Padmavathy also would come back to life. They
brought her body and laid it before the Sant. As soon as he laid his
eyes on the motionless body of Padmavathy, his heart melted in the
fire of anguish.
With love dripping in his voice, he said, “O lamp of my lineage!
Your purity is like blazing fire. You are indeed the true soul-mate who
breathed your last to join me in the other world at the very instant
that you heard of my passing. The purity and intensity of your love
defies human imagination. Life of my life, you are dear to me like
my own eyes. Won’t you cast your loving glance on me just as Radha
looked at Krishna and eased His pangs of separation? Won’t you
assuage the grief in my heart? It is said that even when her body is
placed on the bier, a devoted wife would open her eyes to take a last
look at her husband. Won’t you show me such a favour? I never left
anything wanting in your life. Don’t you know that I cherish great
love for you in my bosom? Behold! I have regained my limbs. Don’t
you want to see me now and rejoice in my recovery? Oh..! I am not
able to contain my sorrow.
“O Lord! I have been appealing piteously to you for long. Will
you not rescue me from this predicament? Alas! Any moment, the
king is going to murder the queen! Am I going to be responsible for
a series of murders, plunging the kingdom in despair and darkness?”
Distressed at the lack of response from the Lord, Jayadeva Swami
appealed to Radha Devi narrating how in His incarnation as Rama,
the Lord released the all-powerful Brahmastra against the evil-minded
Jayant who came disguised as a crow and vexed Sita Devi. “Why
doesn’t He heed my distress now and provide succour to me?” He cried.
“O Lord! You are verily the ocean of nectar of love to Your
devotees. O Effulgence, beyond the grasp of the Vedas! Assuming
an enchanting form as Mohini, You distributed nectar to the Devas
and gladdened their hearts. How can a mediocre person like me do
justice to Your unsurpassing excellences with hymns?”
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 THE BLESSED LIFE OF SANT JAYADEVA
Lo! suddenly, the space was lit with the brilliance of a divine vision.
The melodious music of stringed instruments played by Tumburu
and Narada reverberated in all corners of the earth. Celestial women
danced enchantingly. The siddhas, gandarvas, kinnaras and rishis filled
the sky. In the midst of this jubilation, Lord Krishna and His consort
Radha Devi appeared. The king dropped his sword on the ground and
stood in a reverential attitude with joined palms.
Jayadeva Swami’s state of bliss was beyond description. He placed
his head on the ground again and again before the divine assembly.
The Lord embraced him lovingly and asked, “O holy one! Why did
you cry out to Me in such pain? What do you wish to ask of Me?”
The Sant prayed, “O lotus-eyed Lord! Supreme Person, the
embodiment of countless auspicious virtues! Refuge of the helpless!
Friend of the unfortunate! I am indeed unfortunate; for, even when
You have been gracious enough to appear before me, I am forced to
seek a worldly boon from You. You know why I cried out in agony to
You. Please redress the situation and then take me unto You.” Thus,
did the Sant render a heartrending plea before the Lord.
The Lord said, “O noble devotee! Is there anything that you cannot
do, but I can do? By your mere will, you can make Padmavathy open
her eyes. It is only because you have eschewed the sense of ‘I’ and
‘mine’ and wish to remain inconspicuous, and you don’t want to
display your powers that you beseeched Me to come to your rescue.
You are most superior among men and bear no malice even towards
those who harm you. Abiding in equanimity, you revel in supreme
bliss. Do you want Me to restore Padmavathy to you? Do you want
Me to confer immortality on the king? What is your bidding, tell Me?”
At this moment, the king fell at the feet of the Lord and pleaded,
“O Lord! Please revive our holy mother Padmavathy. There is no
auspiciousness equal to this on earth.”
The Lord of Maya smilingly spoke to the lifeless form laid at His
feet, “O dear Padmavathy! Is it proper for you to sleep when I am
standing before you?”
A divine light emanated from the lotus like mouth of the Lord and
entered Padmavathy’s body and she got up immediately as if rising
from sleep. Overjoyed to see her husband alive, she hurried forward to
prostrate before him. When she saw his lost limbs restored back to him,

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unspeakable joy swept her entire being! She bowed before her husband
with exceeding affection again and again. Her eyes were flooded with
torrential tears of bliss at the marvel. She, the glory of womankind, paid
her obeisance to Sri Krishna and Radha Devi and all those assembled
there and then stood behind her husband with a shy smile.
The Lord blessed the couple and also the king with Self-knowledge
and well-being. Then he said to Jayadeva Swami, “My beloved
Jayadeva! It is not fair that you should keep your knowledge and
erudition concealed. You must spread it among people to uplift them
and free them from bondage.”
The Lord disappeared with His retinue. Shouts of victory rent
the air. The king went round Padmavathy and prostrated to her and
said, “O mother, by your grace I became blessed today. How else is
it possible to attain the vision of the Lord? O mother of the world!
Please tell me, what kind of punishment should be meted out to my
wife whose devious act caused your death?”
In a voice choked with compassion, the noble lady said, “O great
king! It is your wife who was the cause of the restoration of my
husband’s limbs and for you all to be blessed with the Lord’s vision.”
She went forward eagerly and embraced the queen. She spoke to her
the most loving words and bathed the queen in her affection.
The king held the holy feet of the Sant and asked, “O Mahatma,
where had you hidden your precious lotus feet all this time? You are
verily the Lord!” With tears flooding his eyes, the king kissed the
sacred feet of the Swami again and again and became ecstatic.
The Sant held the king in his loving embrace and looked at the
queen with compassionate eyes and spoke words of solace and
affection to both. He told the queen to look after the king with greater
love and care.
Jayadeva Swami relapsed into samadhi as if whatever had
happened before him was a dream-play. The king ruled his country
under the wise and loving guidance of the Sant. Jayadeva Swami
recalled the Lord’s parting advice to him to write about the glories
of His devotees and to expound on devotion and Self-knowledge. As
Bhagavatam contained these aspects, as also the glories and exploits
of the Lord, he composed a novel work extensively in Sanskrit along
the lines of the Bhagavatam. 

108 January - March

Nondi’s Corner

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MOUNTAIN PATH

Introducing Nondi’s Corner

Hello young adults and children!

This is Nondi, a monkey devotee of Bhagavan. I managed
to convince the editorial board to dedicate a few pages
of each issue of the Mountain Path to young adults and
children. I am glad to report that my persuasion worked
and we now have our own special corner!
Bhagavan loved children and young adults. We animals
were also very dear to him. Monkeys have this reputation of
being restless and intractable. But Bhagavan would always
praise our intelligence, organisational capacity and agility.
One of his favourite monkeys, ‘Mottaipaiyan’, even earned
admiration for his tapas.
I wish to offer you spiritual nourishment from Bhagavan
in the form of stories, articles and puzzles. The goal is to
inspire you and help you blossom into kind, brave and decisive
adults. There is a misconception that Bhagavan’s teachings
are too abstract and unfit for children and animals. That is
far from the truth. In fact, he had unique ways to reach our
hearts and transform us. His teachings are practical and
relevant as we navigate the world into adulthood.
I look forward to engaging with all of you, all over the world,
in the years to come. Please share your queries, feedback
and articles with me at <mountainpath@gururamana.org>
Sincerely,
Your friend,
Nondi

110 January - March

 In this first edition of Nondi’s Corner, let me share my
own story with you.
My story with Bhagavan began around 1920, in the
days just prior to Bhagavan moving from Virupaksha Cave
to Skandasramam. I was a young monkey at the time and
had started gaining popularity within my tribe. My troop’s
leader grew jealous of me and one day, he attacked me,
making me fall from a tall tree, badly injuring my leg. The
leader and the other monkeys in the group abandoned me
and left me to my fate near Virupaksha cave.
I was barely conscious but managed to limp into the
cave. The all-compassionate Bhagavan bandaged my leg
and nursed me back to health. My injuries were healed
but I was left permanently crippled. Bhagavan named me
‘Nondipaiyan’, the little Hobbler. From then, I came to be
called ‘Nondi’, my pet name.
I would always sit on Bhagavan’s lap or next to him while
he ate his food. I recall he would never waste food and was
a scrupulously clean eater. I followed Bhagavan wherever
he went, limping along. I grew devoted to him and looked up
to him as my master. Under Bhagavan’s loving care, my leg
regained its strength. I grew to love all the ashramites and
they in turn reciprocated with affection.
But one day, members from my group returned to
Virupaksha Cave. I grew scared and the ashramites also got
fearful. But Bhagavan assured everyone that nothing would
happen. I climbed on to Bhagavan’s lap. Bhagavan explained
to the monkeys that he had applied medicine and bandages
to fix my injured leg. One of them pulled me, ordering me to
rejoin the troop. I looked at Bhagavan imploringly and he said
to me, “Your troop has come to reclaim you. Go with them
like a good boy. Do not forget us when you become king.” So
saying, he patted me and sent me back with my relatives.
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MOUNTAIN PATH

As a rule, monkeys banish members of their group who

have had contact with human beings. But in my case, they
did not outlaw me. They made an exception in the case of
Bhagavan and were very happy to take me back.
When Bhagavan shifted his abode to Skandasramam, I
visited him often with my troop. He would always make sure
we were fed well. While the other monkeys climbed trees and
enjoyed themselves, I would always stay near Bhagavan.
Mother Azhagammal would prepare a separate plate for me
whenever I visited but I preferred to eat from Bhagavan’s
plate. I thus had the rare privilege of being fed by Bhagavan’s
own hand and felt blessed to have this divine relationship. I
learned his ways and always made sure I never spilled or
wasted even a single grain of food offered to me.
I remember this incident with Desur Akhilandammal,
Bhagavan’s staunch devotee. She once served food to
Bhagavan but ignored me. I growled at her and the pious
lady got frightened. Bhagavan told me, “Adei, Adei (hey,
hey) she is our own, do not threaten her.” Akhilandammal
felt blessed to hear the words “our own” from Bhagavan’s
lips.
I also remember this incident with Venkitoo, Bhagavan’s
nephew. He was a young child then, about four and a half
years old. One day, some devotees brought an offering of
snacks for everyone at Skandasramam. After distributing
the prasad, mother Azhagammal set aside a special plate
for me since I had gone out. Venkitoo ate his share with
relish and when no one was looking, he started eating my
share. I caught him red-handed when I returned. I growled
at him, snatched the food from his hand and slapped him
on the cheek. Venkitoo started howling. Bhagavan returned
from his walk just then. He learned what had happened and
smilingly said to Venkitoo, “So you got the blow Venkitoo?

112 January - March

 NONDI’S CORNER

It serves you right. That is Nondi’s portion of snacks. We

should not take what belongs to others, should we? Because
you took his share of food, he was upset and slapped you on
the cheek.”
I gradually became very powerful within my group. The
leader of our clan had grown old and turned into a bully. He
would abuse all of us, including his queens and offspring.
The group eventually overthrew him and crowned me
king. I wanted the coronation to happen in Bhagavan’s
presence. We marched as a group to Skandasramam and
waited for Bhagavan to return from his walk. When I
saw him, I climbed up to the highest branch of the tallest
tree, shook the branch and cried out loudly. Bhagavan
recognised that this was a privilege enjoyed only by
the monkey chieftain. I came down and hopped onto
Bhagavan’s lap and embraced him. Bhagavan stroked my
head. I introduced my queens to him - I had three now, for
the deposed king’s queens were now mine.
I continued to visit him with my queens and children.
Bhagavan was always very gracious to all of us and
recognised us easily. Years ago, I had been banished,
rejected and left for dead by my own clan, unable to even
walk. But with Bhagavan’s grace, I grew up to be a great
warrior and eventually king of my clan.

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Youth Corner
Here’s a personal account from our young friend Jordan
Feri about how he came to Bhagavan and what Bhagavan
means to him. Jordan grew up in California and graduated
from Harvard University. He now lives in Tiruvannamalai
and has dedicated his life to sadhana.

W hen I was a small child, I used to lay in bed and obsess

over three different questions. The first was how to be
selfless, since it was logical to me that anything we do comes
from a place of self-interest only. The second was what
happens to us when we die: the very concept of complete
“nothingness” in an atheistic sense seemed not only illogical,
but unbearable. The third was more of an exercise than a
pondering: I could never understand why I couldn’t stop
thinking, especially if the thoughts belonged to “me”.
I didn’t see any tangible outlet for satisfying this fear
and curiosity, so I turned all of my attention towards
succeeding in school, which was, at that time, the only thing
that came fairly easily to me. My hard work was eventually
rewarded, and I was accepted to Harvard University with
a full ride. By that time, I had pulled together a nice group
of friends. My family was immensely proud of me. Everyone
thought that I had won the lottery and, basically, so did I.
Yet, when I arrived in Boston, my life began to fall apart. I
had always struggled with sadness, but suddenly, my thoughts
began to take monstrous shapes. I found that I had become
so socially awkward that I couldn’t connect with anyone in
my grade. My thoughts spiralled deeper and deeper into
darkness and seemed to take on a life of their own: I would tell
myself things that you would never say to your worst enemy.
It seemed like my new favourite hobby was to hate myself.
114 January - March
 YOUTH CORNER
When I walked down the street, I would fantasise about one
of the cars ending my life. My skin broke out in hives, and some
nights I couldn’t sleep because they itched so badly. I was
overtaken by a visceral feeling of shame, and what’s worse,
it seemed to come from a bottomless pit of evil that I hadn’t
realised was there. At the time, it truly felt that I was trapped
in Hell on Earth.
After several months, the severity of my physical symptoms
decreased, but a pall had been cast over my life. I was still
very much obsessed with dying, and I saw no way out.
Throughout that time, I became acquainted with a knot
in the left side of my back. All of my anxiety and stress
seemed to collect itself there. I sometimes felt that if I
were to focus on that spot with enough concentration or
even stab it correctly with a knife, the knot would untie
itself, and I would be untied with it; somehow, I would
stop existing. One day, while with some friends, I began
to ponder in a very real way what that would mean: to not
exist. The word Oblivion presented itself, and I began to
turn it over and over in my mind. It seemed beautiful. I
got up and walked away from my friends and focused on
the knot. Suddenly, my thoughts began to speed up, until
they were running at a speed I didn’t know was possible.
All at once, the realisation came that every single worry,
disappointment, and expectation I had for myself and for
life was based on nothing. If my mind was a house of cards,
suddenly, someone had pulled one from the bottom, and
the entire thing collapsed. I found that tears were rolling
down my face in such a torrent that I couldn’t stop them. I
felt the ground beneath my feet in a way that I had never
felt anything before. I realised that, not only was I happy,
but that I was in a state of happiness which I had never
left, which would never leave me, and which was my true
nature. Anything I had thought was happiness before was

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MOUNTAIN PATH

less than a pale imitation. When I opened my eyes, I was

surprised to find that the plant at which I was staring was
myself. Then I saw that everything around me was God,
insofar as there was only one Thing, pulsating through the
entire field of my vision. I called it “The Face of God”.
After that experience faded, it was clear to me that
there was no other goal in life worth pursuing than to
reclaim that happiness and make it permanent, though I
knew that it couldn’t really leave me. After I graduated, I
moved back home to California and decided I would devote
myself to “meditation”, though at the time I had no idea
what meditation meant. I knew that I needed some kind
of master to truly take me inwards, but as far as I was
aware, there was no Jesus or Buddha walking around. So I
contented myself with what I could find on YouTube. After
about a year of listening to various teachers around the Bay
Area, knowing that none of them really possessed what I
was looking for, I heard one of them say the name Ramana
Maharishi. Somehow it felt familiar, and I knew that I should
look into this man. Yet, I put it off for some time. There was
the feeling that I wasn’t ready for wherever the name led.
One day, however, my curiosity got the better of me. I
found some of the archival footage of Bhagavan on YouTube.
Immediately, it was clear to me that this old man wreathed
in effervescence was God himself walking on the face of the
Earth. He seemed to make his surroundings and the people
with him look fake. He was everything I had been looking
for and wanting, and I was almost angry that no one knew,
as far as I was aware, that the Buddha had been alive less
than 100 years before.
That same day, I read ‘Who Am I?’ and felt that someone
had understood and penned my innermost suspicions about
the fabric of the universe. Aksharamanamalai had a similar

116 January - March

 YOUTH CORNER
effect. I had spent my last two years of college studying
poetry, and I felt that it was not only the apotheosis of
devotional hymns, but the poem that I had been longing
to read for years. I watched David Godman’s video series
on Bhagavan and made up my mind that I needed to go to
Tiruvannamalai immediately. It felt like my life had finally
started, and that everything else had been a prelude. Truly,
I am most blessed, as are all of us who are lucky enough to
even know Sri Ramana’s name.

Here’s this issue’s Fun Corner

Crossword, Anagrams, Interesting Fact and Shloka

3 1

4 5

7 8

10

11

13 12

ACROSS
3. Bhagavan’s father’s profession (7)
5. City where Bhagavan attended middle school (8)
6. First biography on Bhagavan in Tamil (3, 6,7)
10. Bhagavan’s boyhood name (12)
12. One of the caves in which Bhagavan lived (10)
13. Village where Bhagavan pledged his earrings before arriving at
Arunachala (5)

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MOUNTAIN PATH

DOWN
1. First scripture read by Bhagavan (6,7)
2. Bhagavan’s mother (10)
4. One of Bhagavan’s brothers (12)
7. Bhagavan’s birth star/nakshatra (9)
8. Bhagavan’s birthplace (10)
9. Bhagavan’s sister’s name (7)
11. Month in which Bhagavan had the death experience in 1896 (4)

An anagram is a word or phrase formed by rearranging the letters

of a different word or phrase, typically using all the original letters
exactly once. Following are some anagrams related to the life of
Ramana Maharshi. Rearrange the letters to get a word related to
Ramana’s life.

HAVSRAPIUK __________________________
TIZUCHIUHR __________________________
TRGUHRMMUAU __________________________
DGNDUIIL __________________________
AUIDMAR __________________________
NGAOM ERTE EACV __________________________
UVALNMAARINAIT __________________________
LATPAA ALGNIM __________________________
LDO ALLH __________________________
PDKHAUANURAVZ __________________________
HUGAI IVNASAMHYAA __________________________
CMIAAAPHANM LKIO __________________________
MSRNKSDHAAA __________________________
EELJUIB LLHA __________________________

Answers will be provided in the next issue of Mountain Path.

118 January - March

 YOUTH CORNER
Interesting fact
When Venkataraman was about 6 years old, he was
reprimanded mildly for making kites and paper boats from
a case-bundle of law-suits. The boy took it to heart and
disappeared, and the search for him was fruitless. At the
time of puja at the Mother Sri Sahayavalli shrine, the priest
saw a figure silently seated behind the idol. It was the child
Venkataraman.
Introducing Sri Ramana Ashtottaram
Let’s memorise this wonderful composition by Sri
Viswanatha Swami, one shloka at a time. These are 108
names of Bhagavan used to worship him. As each name is
uttered by way of invocation, a flower is offered in worship.
   
Om mahāsenamahomśenajātāya namaḥ ।
Meaning: One sprung from the resplendence of Mahasena
(Skanda). Skanda, commander of the divine forces, destroys
the vasanas, the asuric desires and memories, that turn the
mind away from the Self within.
Introducing Poems of Ramana
One day in 1912 a potter came to the Virupaksha Cave
with a small clay idol of Sri Ganesa that he had made and
presented it to Sri Bhagavan. This is what Sri Bhagavan
wrote on Sri Ganesa:
Him who begot you as a child you made
Into a beggar; as a child yourself
You then lived everywhere just to support
Your own huge belly; I too am a child.
Oh Child God in that niche! Encountering one
Born after you, is your heart made of stone?
I pray you look at me!

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QUESTION & ANSWER
Effective this issue, the editor will answer questions from devotees.

Namaskaram, Sir. I am a devotee of Bhagavan Sri Ramana

Maharshi and have been practicing, to the best of my ability
and more importantly his grace, his teaching of ātma-vichāra
for the past several years. I happened to watch some of
your recent talks that were a part of the ashram’s centenary
celebrations. You have attempted to briefly touch upon the
practice of ātma-vichāra in these talks. I, in all humility and
with the deepest respects to Bhagavan and to you who represent
his sacred ashram, would like to point out that the references
you have repeatedly made in your talks, citing Ramana Gītā,
to Bhagavan’s teaching about the heart being on the right
side of the chest, are erroneous pointers for practice and may
actually be misleading to those who are new (in fact, even to
many older ones) to his teaching. Many sādhakas may actually
start wrongly and detrimentally concentrating on the right
side of their chests while meditating, after hearing your talks,
assuming that this was the teaching of Bhagavan on how to
practice ātma-vichāra. The actual import of this statement by
Bhagavan will be understood only after one carries out deep
self-study, reflection, internalisation, and nididhyāsanam
(constant practice) of his teaching.

Thank you very much for your query. Though I mention that the
Heart is on the right side, as mentioned in the Ramana Gītā, I never
mention that one should meditate on this Heart. The Heart on the right
is true relative only to the dēhātma-buddhi. When we mistake ourself
to be a body, the dēhātma-buddhi (the false awareness ‘I am this
body’) is experienced by us as centred on the right side of the chest.
I mention that “The moment we wake up, the first thought that
springs up is the “I” thought. From there we identify ourselves as

120 January - March

 QUESTION & ANSWER
“I am Dr. Ramanan” and a flood of thoughts take over us. “I am in
Delhi”, “I have to give a speech this afternoon” and so on. What’s
common to all these thoughts that flood our mind when we are awake,
is the “I” thought. Bhagavan teaches us to get to that core thought by
stripping it off association with all other adjuncts. Once that is done,
he asks us to trace the pure “I” thought to its source.”
The heart is where the quest of ‘whence am I’ ends. Bhagavan
has never asked us to focus on the center. However, it is important to
talk about hridayam as the final resting ‘place’ of the quest, a ‘place’
of unalloyed, neutral happiness. Although many Vedanta texts like
Yoga Vasishtha and the Bhagavad Gita reference hridayam, they do
not highlight its importance the way Bhagavan did when it comes to
practice. The emphasis is, therefore, unique to Bhagavan and offers
an important clue to his devotees. My personal view is that devotees
of Bhagavan who have had at least some taste of the hridayam are the
ones who truly grasp the beauty and power of his teaching.
This practice of concentrating on the right side of the chest has been
a hotly debated one. There are votaries for this even among advanced
devotees of Bhagavan. People who started with Yoga Mārgam, on
transiting to Bhagavan’s vichara margam, generally advocated this.
However, it may be safely concluded that while the experience of
the Self contains an awareness of this centre, concentration on this
centre will not result in the experience of the Self.1 A gentleman asked
where the Heart is and what Realisation is. Bhagavan explains this.2
M.: The Heart is not physical; it is spiritual. Hṛdayam = hṛt +
ayam — (Heart) This is the centre. It is that from which thoughts arise,
on which they subsist and where they are resolved. The thoughts are
the content of the mind and, they shape the universe. The Heart is
the centre of all. yato vā imāni bhūtāni jāyante (that from which
these beings come into existence) etc. is said to be Brahman in the
Upanishads. That is the Heart. Brahman is the Heart.

1
Godman, D., ‘Self-enquiry – Misconceptions’ Chapter in Be As You Are, Penguin
Books Ltd,
2
Venkataramiah, M (ed). Talks with Sri Ramana Maharshi, Talk §97

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MOUNTAIN PATH
Bhagavan clarifies3
D.: Is it the physical heart?
M.: No. It is the seat wherefrom ‘I-I’ arises.
This is further clarified4,
“I ask you to see where the ‘I’ arises in your body, but it is really
not quite correct to say that the ‘I’ rises from and merges in the Heart
in the right side of the chest. The heart is another name for the Reality
and it is neither inside nor outside the body; there can be no in or out
for it, since it alone is. I do not mean by ‘heart’ any physiological
organ or any plexus of nerves or anything like that, but so long as
one identifies oneself with the body and thinks he is in the body he
is advised to see where in the body the ‘I’-thought rises and merges
again. It must be the Heart at the right side of the chest since every
man, of whatever race and religion and in whatever language he may
be saying ‘I’, points to the right side of the chest to indicate himself.
This is so all over the world, so that must be the place. And by keenly
watching the daily emergence of the ‘I’-thought on waking and its
subsiding in sleep, one can see that it is in the Heart on the right side.”

In Talk 273, Bhagavan explicitly addresses this issue.5

D.: Should I meditate on the right chest in order to meditate on
the Heart?
M.: The Heart is not physical. Meditation should not be on the
right or the left. Meditation should be on the Self. Everyone knows
‘I am’. Who is the ‘I’? It will be neither within nor without, neither
on the right nor on the left. ‘I am’ - that is all. The Heart is the centre
from which everything springs. Because you see the world, the body
and so on, it is said that there is a centre for these, which is called the
Heart. When you are in the Heart, the Heart is known to be neither
the centre nor the circumference. There is nothing else. Whose centre
could it be?
Thus it is clear that Bhagavan has clearly stated that one should
not meditate on the physical heart but on the Self. 
3
Ibid., Talk §52
4
Mudaliar, D., Day by Day with Bhagavan, 23-5-46.
5
Venkataramiah, M (ed). Talks with Sri Ramana Maharshi, Talk §273

122 January - March

BOOK REVIEW
MAHABHARATA: THE GREAT WAR OF THE
BHARATA CLAN. Text, Drawings and Colour by
Gol. Indica Books, Varanasi, 2023. HB Rs.2,450.
pp.196.
ISBN-13 : ‎978-93-81120-37-8.
https://www.indicabooks.in/product/the-
mahabharata-in-comic
email: indicabooks@gmail.com
The Mahabharata – the largest epic of India and the entire world — is a
fascinating story brimming with action, drama, passion, and wisdom. It
speaks to us about dharma, the correct way to live. Its 100,000 ślokas (or
200,000 single-line verses) contain the Bhagavad Gītā, one of humanity’s
greatest and most profound spiritual teachings. It is roughly ten times the
length of the Iliad and the Odyssey combined. The Mahabharata is believed
to have been written between 400 BCE and 400 CE, although the events it
describes are said to have taken place much earlier, around 3000 BC. The
Mahabharata tells the story of a dynastic struggle between two branches
of the same royal family for the throne of the ancient Indian kingdom of
Hastinapur, involving the Pandavas and Kauravas.
Millennia have passed since the dharma yuddha of the cousins shook
the land of Bharata. But this history of our ancestors continues to fascinate
us. It is revered both as a text about dharma and a history (itihāsa, literally
“that’s what happened”). The plot of this ancient Indian epic centers around
corrupt politics, ill-behaved men and warfare. These events of the struggles
of men over their own emotions continue to the present day.
The Mahabharata contains profound philosophical and spiritual teachings
that reflect on the multitude of dilemmas and crises that beset any family.
We realise that human psychology has not changed over several millennia.
Innate desires, gratitude, jealousy, betrayal, and many other psychological
attributes remain the same. Thus, through the characters, we see ourselves
— our own strengths and failures. Irrespective of our faults, we strive to
maintain our dharma because that brings us not joy or happiness, but peace.
That is the essence of the Mahabharata — and of life.
It is often referred to as the ‘fifth Veda’ and is considered, along with the
Ramayana, to be one of the most important works of Hinduism. It is important
to realise that the events described are not completely mythological, as there
is enough archaeological evidence to support many incidents described, such
as the flood in Dwarka and the battle in Kurukshetra.

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MOUNTAIN PATH
In India, it is said that whatever is found in the Mahabharata may be
found in other texts, but whatever is not found in the Mahabharata cannot
be found elsewhere. Whatever one needs to learn in life can be learned in
the Mahabharata. Though the main theme is the war, many smaller stories,
incidents within these stories, and even the Bhagavad Gītā itself are all
interwoven together in an extraordinary chronicle by an exceptional narrator
we come to know as Veda Vyasa. It is a great read for anyone who likes
heroism, treachery, crime, suspense, humour, romance, politics, loyalty —
you name it, and this book has it. All human emotions like love, joy, bravery,
courage, and respect are expressed in the book.
However, the primary purpose of the epic is its emphasis on dharma.
Vidura, in the Mahabharata, recommends the prioritisation of the greater
good. ‘Sacrifice your son to protect the village and sacrifice the village
to protect your nation. But to protect your own ātma, be ready to give up
everything,’ he says. One’s conscience is supreme. A guiltless conscience
is what brings peace within. Only upholding dharma can lead to a faultless
conscience.
In the Karna Parva 69.46–53, Krishna explained to Arjuna the nuances of
dharma and truth by reciting many stories, including that of Rishi Kaushika.
He defines truth as dharma and dharma as truth. He made Arjuna see the
context-sensitive nature of truth and the need for discretion in all decision-
making and actions. ‘No doubt, truth is paramount. But understanding the
nature of truth in practice, as lived by noblemen, is a difficult endeavour. An
apparent lie that saves an innocent life is more virtuous than an apparent truth
that harms those who deserve to be protected. One should know what matters
and when.” But why upload dharma? Krishna says, ‘Because it upholds
and protects, it is called dharma. Dharma sustains society. Hence, only
that action which protects and upholds is said to be aligned with dharma.’
Vyasa says multiple times throughout the Mahabharata: “dharma eva
hato hanti dharmo rakṣati rakṣitaḥ” — Dharma destroys those who destroy
it and protects those who protect it. However, upholding dharma does not
always bring joy or pleasure. Duryodhana had smirked just before dying,
‘I have lived a luxurious life; you can live and mourn over all that is lost.’
Yudhishthira was indeed going to be the monarch of a kingdom full of
widows — most of the men had died in the war. Winning the war did not
bring him joy. But he had upheld dharma, and that brought him peace.
That’s why Yudhishthira repeatedly says, “Strive to understand the nuances
of dharma. Strive to uphold dharma. Through dharma, uplift yourself and
live peacefully.”
In Vana Parva 32, Draupadi says, “Every person must work hard.
However, enterprise and hard work alone do not determine the outcome.
That depends on two additional factors — fate and the grace of God. Hence,

124 January - March

 BOOK REVIEW
one should strive to do his dharma but not become dejected if the outcome is
not as per one’s choice. What matters is the effort that was put in. Therefore,
irrespective of the result, one must follow dharma.”
It is exactly this concept that Krishna elaborates in the Bhagavad Gītā. In
2.47, Krishna explains, “You have a right to perform your dharma, but you
are not entitled to the fruits of your actions. Never consider yourself to be
the cause of the results of your activities, nor be attached to inaction.” This
is precisely because the results of your actions are not in your hands — they
are based on your past karma and the grace of Krishna.
Krishna is not saying here that the results should be ignored or that
duties be carelessly performed without concern for the results. What He is
saying is simply that we are not entitled to be the enjoyer of the fruits of our
dharma because we cannot control them. If you are cultivating a garden,
for example, you should make every effort to get the best yield; however,
the actual yield of that garden is up to forces that are beyond our control.
All we can do is to plant the seeds and be equanimous about the result —
whether favorable or not.
Kunti says, “It is likely that the outcome may not always be as we desire.
But that can be known only after the action is done. That is why, results
notwithstanding, wise men continue to engage in their work. Success and
failures are, in any case, ephemeral. Hence, believing firmly that success will
come, one must engage in work. However, one should remain equipoised
irrespective of the results.”
Some time ago another comic version of the Mahabharata was published
by Amar Chitra Katha (Immortal Picture Stories), an Indian comic book
publisher, that has done tremendous service publishing some 350 different
titles across a range of categories in various Indian languages. The comics
released are on various aspects of Indian history, personalities, mythological
stories of gods and goddesses, and folk tales. These comic books are well-
known to many children who were fortunate that their parents bought them.
Amar Chitra Katha published many stories from the Mahabharata as well
as an abridged version but this is the first time that we know of a complete
rendering that is now available in comic form in one volume. The first
complete English prose translation of the Mahabharata was done directly
from the original Sanskrit text by Kisari Mohan Ganguli. His translation was
published as The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa between 1883
and 1896. Each of the 12 volumes of the Victorian prose version is about
500 pages. For many years it was the only English translation available and
the volumes were hard to get. Subsequently, the definitive Critical Edition
of the Mahabharata was released by Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute
in 1966. Of the recent complete translations, the best is the one edited by
Ramesh Menon in 12 volumes, published by Rupa Publications in 2017.  

2024 125
MOUNTAIN PATH
There are many compressed versions of the complete epic that have
been published in English along with abridgments and novelistic prose
retellings by authors such as R.K. Narayan, C. Rajagopalachari, and Kamala
Subramaniam. However, unfortunately, recent books like Mahabharata:
Relevance and Application in Contemporary Thought by Bharat
Thakker propagate myths and falsehoods not present in the original version
while books like Mahabharata Unravelled: Lesser-Known Facets of a
Well-Known History by Ami Ganatra adhere to the original version and
debunk false myths and offers insights not commonly known. The number
of works on the Mahabharata and the adaptations that still get written is a
testimony to its enduring relevance.
Indica Books presents a wonderful comic version of the Mahabharata,
which retells the epic in a comprehensive and accessible way, maintaining
the main plotline intact. With beautiful artwork and well-written dialogues,
it is mainly directed towards young people and adults. Almost every child
in India is taught about Indian heritage through the stories of Ramayana and
Mahabharata by their grandparents. However, with the growth of nuclear
families, no one has the time to read and understand the morals and dharma
in these books. This book covers that gap. This fine work could be considered
by parents who feel that their children should understand, learn, and value
the heritage of India. The narration is simple and descriptive. The language
is easy to understand for children to follow smoothly and enjoy the storyline
without being puzzled by difficult words. Due to the increasingly visual
nature of acquiring knowledge by the young, this new ‘complete’ story fills
a gap. It is not only entertaining but also informative and thought-provoking.
The art and detailing are praiseworthy. The drawings have brought the story
to life in our imagination much more than words alone would have done. It
is also a great resource book for non-resident Indians.
The book is the creation of ‘Gol’ aka Miguel Gomez Andrea. The author
of this comic has succeeded in recreating the environment and characters
that lived in India five thousand years ago when gods walked on earth.
He has authored over 40 historical comic titles including two on Indian
themes: Pilgrimage to Kashi and Taj Mahal. Love and Tragedy in the Mughal
Emperor’s Court.
The book is available in Sanskrit (which can be very useful for Sanskrit
students) and Hindi as well as English. Indica Books is to be commended
for its courage to publish such a major project considering its artistic and
financial challenges. The only drawback is the high cost of the book. But
this is due to the excellent quality of the book. So, in short, yes, go ahead
and buy this book, and enjoy hours of satisfying reading.
― Christopher Quilkey and M. Giridhar

126 January - March
ASHRAM BULLETIN
Navaratri
The Navaratri celebrations at the shrine of Sri Matrubhuteswara were
held from October 15–October 24. At the beginning of the Navaratri festival
(14/10/2023) around 5 pm, Mother Yogambikai was taken out of the Sanctorum,
brought to the Sannidhi and consecrated in the Navaratri Kolu Mandapam. At
5.45 pm Arati was held for Mother Yogambikai at Kolu Mandapam.
The Goddess was decorated in various names and forms during the nine
nights. All devotees attended and received the immense grace of the Goddesses.
Karthikai Deepam Festival
This year, the Karthikai Deepam Festival began with the flag hoisting
ceremony at Sri Arunachaleswara Temple on 17th November. On Sunday,
the 26th November, the sacred Maha Deepam was lit at 6 PM at the
Mountain peak. A special abhishekam, decoration and Vedic recitation
were held at Bhagavan’s Shrine. When the lamp was seen at the top of
the hill, with the slogan ‘Annamalaikku Arohara’, a lamp was lit in front
of Bhagavan’s Shrine and Aksharamanamalai Parayanam was conducted
every day for eleven days.
Earlier, Bharani Deepam was lit in the Arunachaleswara temple at 4
am followed by the processions of Vinayakar, Murugar, Arunachaleswarar,
Unnamulai Amman and Chandikeswarar around the temple. The festival
concluded with the 3-day Theppam Utsavam and the Chandikeswarar Utsavam.
Obituaries

Smt. Pattammal, aged 98, mother of Sri T.V.

Chandramouli, who serves in the Ashram, was absorbed
at the feet of Arunachala Ramana in Ramana Nagar on
10th November during the auspicious Pradosha Kaalam.
She is survived by two sons and a daughter.

Smt. Uma Devi, aged 84, mother of Dr. Giridhar, who

serves in the Ashram’s publication department, collapsed
while witnessing the Ashram’s live telecast of Deepam
lit on Arunachala on 26th November and was absorbed
at the feet of Arunachala Ramana on Punarvasu Day, 1st
December 2023.

2024 127
 SRI RAMANASRAMAM SPECIAL DAYS 2024
Festival/Function English Date
Pongal 15-01-2024 Monday
Chinnaswamigal Aradhana 25-01-2024 Thursday
Sundaram Iyer Day 29-02-2024 Thursday
Maha Sivaratri 08-03-2024 Friday
Sri Vidya Havan 15-03-2024 Friday
Telugu New Year 09-04-2024 Tuesday
Tamil New Year 14-04-2024 Sunday
Sri Rama Navami 17-04-2024 Wednesday
Bhagavan’s 74th Aradhana 06-05-2024 Monday
Maha Puja 31-05-2024 Friday
Cow Lakshmi Day 18-06-2024 Tuesday
Guru Poornima 21-07-2024 Sunday
Bhagavan’s Advent Day 01-09-2024 Sunday
Navaratri Festival commences 03-10-2024 Thursday
Saraswati Puja 12-10-2024 Saturday
Vijayadasami 12-10-2024 Saturday
Deepavali 31-10-2024 Thursday
Karthigai Festival commences 04-12-2024 Wednesday
Deepam 13-12-2024 Friday
Bhagavan’s 145th Jayanti 17-12-2024 Tuesday

128 January - March

 NOW AVAILABLE...
Original ink sketch of Arunachala by Sri Ramana Maharshi, from Kunju Swami’s notebook
DIARY AND CALENDARS - 2024
The wall calendar has six sheets (12 pages) of the
Mountain Path photographs of Bhagavan Ramana Maharshi. The
special days of Ashram are mentioned in the calendar.
Founded 1964 By Arthur Osborne
Volume 61, No. 1, Jayanti 2024
The calendar is approximately 16 inches in width and
23 inches in height. Price: ₹150.
Editor & Publisher : Venkat S. Ramanan The aim of this journal will be to set Two desktop calendars are available containing six
Editorial Board: M. Giridhar
forth the traditional wisdom of sanatana sheets (12 pages) of the photographs of Arunachala
S. Ram Mohan and Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi, respectively.
V. Krithivasan
dharma with emphasis on Vedanta, as
testified and taught by the great sage They are 6.5 inches in width and 10 inches in
Sunita Parasuraman
Design & Layout: L. Sivasubramanian Sri Ramana Maharshi, and to clarify height and contain quotations for each month from
D. Thiyagarajan his path for seekers in the conditions of Bhagavan’s teachings. Price: ₹100.
Web distribution: S. Gopalakrishnan our modern world. Sri Ramanasramam Diary 2024 — The diary consists
Printer: N. Subramanian of 365 pages with quotations both in English and Tamil
based on the teachings of Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi
Please address Contributions for publication are and 12 full page photographs of Bhagavan. Price: ₹250.
Enquiries: mountainpath@sriramanamaharshi.org welcome. They should be in English,
Subscriptions: bookstall@ramanaguru.org
original and previously unpublished.
Articles can contain quotations from To See God is to Become God (English) — A small pocket size
Submissions: mountainpath@gururamana.org
sacred text in regional languages book titled To See God is to become God has been published.
https://www.sriramanamaharshi.org/resource_cen- provided complete translations are
tre/publications/mountain-path/
provided. Use Google Noto fonts for
This book chronicles the experiences of Narayana Iyer with Sri
Mountain Path these texts. Contributors are requested Bhagavan. R. Narayana Iyer, a retired Sub-registrar, is one of the
Sri Ramanasramam senior-most devotees of Bhagavan. Initially, he was an out-and-out
Tiruvannamalai
to send articles as an email attachment
Tamil Nadu - 606 603. INDIA. in Word format. skeptic but very soon he became a staunch follower and devotee of
Phone: 0091-4175-237200 Sri Bhagavan. pp. x+101; ISBN: 978-81-8288-308-6; Price: ₹80.
+91 9244937292 No payment is made for contributions
published.
The following Gujarati books have been released.
The Editor is not responsible for
Annual Subscription statements and opinions contained in
(4 issues): signed articles.
1.   ? ( ?).
Gujarati translation of the
₹ 200 (India)
English book ‘Who Am I?’ Price: ₹35.
₹ 50 (single copy) Material from Mountain Path may be 2.   . Gujarati translation of the English book
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Life Subscription
from the Publisher and acknowledgement
to Mountain Path.
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Mountain Path is dedicated to Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi (Postage and packing charges extra).
 Registered with the Registrar of Newspapers for India under No. 8300/64
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MOUNTAIN PATH
Never mind the mind. If its source is sought,
it will vanish leaving the Self.
— Talks, Sri Ramana Maharshi

Mountain Path
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JAYANTI — JANUARY-MARCH 2024

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Vol. 61, No. 1

Published by Dr. Venkat S. Ramanan, President, Sri Ramanasramam on behalf of Sri Ramanasramam
from its office at Tiruvannamalai 606603 and printed by Sri. N. Subramanian at
Sudarsan Graphics Private Limited, 4/641, 3rd Street, 12th Link Street, Kottivakkam, Chennai 600 041.
Editor: Dr. Venkat S. Ramanan
Vol. 61, No. 1 January-March 2024